Road Safety Audit

Abstract

The article shows that observance of automobile roads design and construction standards does not guarantee safety of traffic. The focus is put on the weakest component of the traffic system - "a person" in the context of growing motorization and psychological stresses and increase of accidents risks. Substantiation is provided for the conclusion about the necessity for using additional tools capable of minimizing accidents risks stipulated by the human factor. We have examined the world road industry experience 3 decades long and the results of its continuous methodical improvement. The main tool is the traffic safety audit. The article studies the experience of the leading countries in the field of the traffic safety audit integration into technological processes of roads lifecycle [Elviv et al. (2004), Wilson and Hildebrand (2001)]. The Russian practice results are shown in the course of respective research and development projects devoted to diminishing accidents risks and methods for adaptation of the audit to Russian conditions.