Road Safety Impact Assessment Research Articles

Road safety impact assessment practices and recommendations

Abstract This article reviews the practices for conducting Road Safety Impact Assessment (RIA). An overview of current research and methodologies related to this field is presented, and various aspects of the preparation of RSIA are analysed. The DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on road infrastructure safety management (RISM Directive) defines the procedure “road safety impact assessment” as a strategic comparative analysis of the impact of a new road or a substantial modification to the existing network on the safety performance of the road network”; The RISM Directive provides only the basic framework for conducting such analysis by just pointing out its basic elements without providing specific methodology for it. Some countries have developed their own methodologies, others not. Although the RIA is a procedure, that was included in the initial RISM Directive (2008), Bulgaria has not yet had much experience with it, nor has a developed methodology or recommendations for it. The main aim of this article is to review and analyse international experience in conducting road safety impact assessment and to present some recommendations about it for such procedures from national teams. The article draws attention to the methods and tools used in the preparation of the RIA. This includes the collection and analysis of road infrastructure and traffic data, the study of previous safety analyses, modelling and simulations of the proposed measures, and the assessment of social and economic aspects. One of the main aspects discussed in the article is the possibility of using computer models and artificial intelligence (AI) in the preparation of the RIA. AI can be applied to process large volumes of data and perform complex risk and scenario analyses. This allows practitioners to obtain more accurate and predictable results to serve as a basis for making informed road safety decisions. In conclusion, the article emphasizes the importance of preparing Road safety impact assessment and presents different practices and methodologies that can be used in this process. The use of computer models and AI can improve the efficiency and accuracy of RSIA and contribute to achieving higher standards of road safety.

Predictive road safety impact assessment of traffic management policies and measures

In recent research the CONDUITS performance evaluation framework for traffic management and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) was developed, consisting of a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the strategic themes of traffic efficiency, safety, pollution reduction and social inclusion. Follow-up work has concentrated on integrating the developed CONDUITS KPIs with microscopic traffic simulation. The outcome has been a predictive evaluation tool for traffic management and ITS, called CONDUITS_DST, in which two of the four KPI categories have been integrated previously: pollution and traffic efficiency. The objective of the present study is to further extend the predictive evaluation framework to include the theme of traffic safety. Contributing to the development of the CONDUITS_DST traffic safety module, the paper identifies and proposes relevant models and metrics linking traffic characteristics with road safety impacts. In doing so, it enables the extraction of the necessary input data for each of the three CONDUITS KPIs for traffic safety (accidents, direct impacts, and indirect impacts) directly from microscopic traffic simulation models. The proposed models and metrics are tested in conjunction with the relevant CONDUITS KPIs for safety using data from simulation models before and after the implementation of a bus priority signalling system in Brussels. Testing takes place both at the network level, but also at the level of individual links, and the results show that the framework is able to capture the expected safety impacts adequately well, paving the way towards its implementation is the traffic safety module of CONDUITS_DST.

Implementation of modern tools for the improvement of the road infrastructure on the Trans-European road network – road safety inspection (RSI)

The European Directive on the Road Infrastructure Safety Improvement (2008/96/EC) has established the implementation of appropriate procedures as the basic tools for improving the road infrastructure on the trans-European road network. The Law on Roads (2018) prescribes the implementation of the following procedures: Road safety impact assessment; Road safety audit; Road safety inspection; Risk mapping; Black spot identification; and In depth road accident studies. The Law on Roads also prescribes that the Minister will prescribe the manner of implementation and the contents of the Evaluation, Audit and Independent Assessment reports, as well as the manner of determining the major risk portions and the identification and ranking of hazardous sites (black spots). Since the method of implementation and the content of the report are not yet prescribed, the authors contributed in this paper to defining the manner of implementation and content of the traffic safety report on the example of the section of the highway, as the highest category of state road. In the framework of the training of auditors and auditors, among others, a pilot project was carried out for the safety of traffic on the part of the E-75 (A1) highway, about 2,7 km ahead of the Mali Požarevac loop, including the loop. The verified part of the highway also includes a ramp with a toll ramp, service facility, overpass, bridge, etc., so the selected checked part is representative for defining a recommendation for the mode of implementation and the model for the preparation of the report.

Safety assessment of Czech motorways and national roads

PurposeCzech motorways and national roads form the primary road network, which is critical in terms of safety. To be able to rationally manage network safety in both planning and operation stages, quality network-wide data and tools are needed. While such tools already exist in some countries, their transferability is limited. Authors therefore collected data and used it to develop tools, which allowed conducting state-of-the-art road safety impact assessment and network safety ranking in the Czech conditions. In addition to primary road network, focus was widened to include also secondary roads, in order to enable assessment of impacts on adjacent road network.MethodsAccident, road and traffic data was collected, using not only existing databases, but also including own collection of traffic volumes on motorway interchanges. Data was used to develop the tools, based on accident prediction models and accident modification factors.ResultsThe final accident prediction models and accident modification factors enabled conducting road safety impact assessment, for which simple on-line tool was also developed. For network safety ranking, accident prediction models were applied according to the Empirical Bayes method, in order to determine potential for safety improvement of the studied road network elements, with the final priority list visualized in an on-line map. Both outputs are shortly presented in the paper.ConclusionsData and sample size limitations lead to some compromises in modelling, such as using fixed proportions of observed accident severities or omitted variables. Nevertheless, the study established the practical framework for both road safety impact assessment and network safety ranking. It may serve as an example for other member countries, which also lack their local tools. Follow-up studies may focus on future model updating and improvements, as well as development of local accident modification factors.

Analysis of road safety before and after road safety assessment carried out on the road section no. 16 Banja luka – Celinac, intersection “Groblje-Vrbanja“

The Republic of Srpska implemented three procedures provided by the Directive 2008/96/EC, namely: road safety audit for infrastructure projects (Road Safety Audit, RSA), road safety impact assessment (Road Safety Assessment RSI), as well as the procedures of identifying, ranking and remedying and black spots management (BSM). This paper presents a concrete road safety inspection of intersection on the primary road (major road) M4 in the place Vrbanja near Banja Luka. The said intersection is where the major road and access road to newly constructed cemetery in Banjaluka intersect. After the inspection, the Public Company “Republic of Srpska Motorways“ as road administration implemented some recommendations from the final Report on road safety inspection in order to improve these procedures. Also, an analysis was carried out to identify the conditions before and after the audit and partial implementation of recommendations.

RSI implementation in the countries of the region

As early as 2001, the Europeen Commision expressedin its White Book the need for assessing the impacts on road safety and conducting road traffic safety inspections with the aim of reducing the number of fatalities in car crashes from 2001 to 2010. In this context, the Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety was issued. The purpose of this Directive was to ensure higher level of traffic safety during all phases of the road life cycle, from its planning, designing, constructing to the maintanance of the road already in operation.The said Directive requires for procedures relating to the Road Safety Impact Assessment (RSIA), Road Safety Audit, Network Safety Management (NSM) and ranking of high accident concentration sections (Black Spot Management) and Road Safety Inspection (RSI) to be established and implemented. This paper aims at showing the current state of affairs in countries of the region with regard to the implementation of the road safety inspections. The results of this paper will provide the scientific and expert public with insights into the state of trafic safety of the region’s countries with regard to Road Safety Inspection.

Tools for road infrastructure safety management in poland

Road safety can be improved by implementing principles of road safety infrastructure management (RIS) on the network of European roads as adopted in the Directive. The document recommends that member states should use tried and tested tools for road safety management such as: road safety impact assessment (RIA), road safety audit (RSA), safety management on existing road networks including road safety ranking (RSM) and road safety inspection (RSI). The objective of the methods is to help road authorities to take rational decisions in the area of road safety and road infrastructure safety and understand the consequences occurring in the particular phases of road life cycle. To help with assessing the impact of a road project on the safety of related roads, a method was developed for long-term forecasts of accidents and accident cost estimation as well as a risk classification to identify risks that are not acceptable risks. With regard to road safety audits and road safety inspection, a set of principles was developed to identify risks and the basic classification of mistakes and omissions.

Management of Road Infrastructure Safety

Road Infrastructure Safety Management (RISM) refers to a set of procedures that support a road authority in decision making related to the improvement of safety on a road network. Some of these procedures can be applied to existing infrastructure, thus enabling a reactive approach; and other procedures are used in early stages of a project's life-cycle allowing a proactive approach. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the most well-known procedures and present a series of recommendations for successful road infrastructure safety management. The work described in the paper was completed by the IRTAD sub-working group on Road Infrastructure Safety Management and presented in detail in the respective Report.The methodology followed on this purpose included the description of the most consolidated RISM procedures, the analysis of the use of RISM procedures worldwide and the identification of possible weaknesses and barriers to their implementation, the provision of good practice examples and the contribution to the scientific assessment of procedures.Specifically, the following RISM procedures were considered: Road Safety Impact Assessment (RIA), Efficiency Assessment Tools (EAT), Road Safety Audit (RSA), Network Operation (NO), Road Infrastructure Safety Performance Indicators (SPI), Network Safety Ranking (NSR), Road Assessment Programs (RAP), Road Safety Inspection (RSI), High Risk Sites (HRS) and In-depth Investigation. Each procedure was described along with tools and data needed for its implementation as well as relevant common practices worldwide. A synthesis summarizing the key information for each procedure was also drafted.Based on a survey on 23 IRTAD member countries from worldwide, the lack of resources or tools is the most commonly stated reason for not applying a RISM procedure. This has been frequently found mainly in European countries. Another common reason is the absence of recommendations/guidelines, especially for SPI, RAP, RSI and RSA. This highlights the importance of the presence of some legislation regulating the application of the procedures. Lack of data was found important mainly for SPI, HRS and EAT.Good practices of road infrastructure safety management have been explored in order to find solutions to the issues highlighted by the survey and provide examples about how these issues have been overcome in some countries. Specifically, issues related to data, legal framework, funding, knowledge, tools and dealing with more RISM procedures were addressed.Finally, nine key messages and six recommendations for better Road Infrastructure Safety Management were developed based on the conclusions made.

Directive 2008/96/EC On Road Infrastructure Safety Management: An Ex-post Assessment 5 years After its Adoption

This research presents the ex-post evaluation results linked to the implementation of Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management (RISM) five years after its adoption. The Directive has led to the establishment of different procedures (Road Safety Impact Assessment, Road Safety Audits, Road Safety Inspections, Network Safety Management) in all Member States, thus increasing their use in comparison with the pre-Directive context. The ex-post evaluation seeks to gauge the degree to which the Directive has been put into practice across the EU countries and identify the main impacts generated by considering a range of evaluation criteria (Implementation, Relevance, Effectiveness, Sustainability, Coherence, Utility, Efficiency and EU added value). The outcomes from the evaluation confirm that Directive 2008/96/EC has encouraged a generalized use of RISM procedures which are now established in all Member States, are based on a minimal set of compulsory rules in the management of the TEN-T roads (in many cases also applied to non-TEN-T roads) and are implemented within a harmonized legislative framework. The main weakness of this Directive relates, conversely, to the limited scope of its application as it only applies to the TEN-T road network.

Safety PL– A Support Tool for Road Safety Impact Assessment

Published on 19 November 2008, the European Union's Directive 2008/96/EC is one of the most important EU documents setting out a road safety orientation, in particular, road infrastructure safety management. It identifies four main areas of activity: road safety impact assessment, road safety audit, ranking of high accident concentration sections and network safety ranking and road infrastructure safety inspection.The Directive was implemented in Poland under the Act of 13 April 2012 “on amending the Public Roads Act and some other Acts”. The Act implements three of the Directive's four actions: road safety assessment, road safety audit, ranking of sections and network ranking. The Directive is further implemented under documents issued by the Director of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA).In 2011 the GDDKiA commissioned the Gdansk University of Technology and Krakow University of Technology to prepare an Instruction for Road Safety Assessment. The document helps with conducting the procedure for all newly designed national roads. Having implemented these guidelines, the GDDKiA, in an effort to improve design quality, requires designers to prepare such assessments for all planned and newly designed national roads.The road safety assessment uses a generalised model of linear regression to estimate the relations between selected road and traffic factors and selected road safety measures (number of accidents, injuries, fatalities and accident costs). The procedure comprises around twelve steps and differs depending on the type of road (class G, GP, A and S roads) and cross-section (1×2, 2×2, 2×3). It includes a number of variables representing road location, year of analysis and roadside.The authors of this article present a concept of implementing computational procedures previously used for a road safety impact assessment in the PTV Visum application. As a result, it will be possible to include models used for assessing selected road safety measures into the traffic volume forecast tool. Thanks to this it will be possible to calculate the number of accidents, victims and accident costs for all analysed variants of traffic spatial distribution. By automating this process, we will be able to speed up work and reduce analytical errors.

Tools for Assessing the Safety Impact of Interventions on Road Safety

This paper is the result of a PhD in Transport Infrastructure, realized at CTL, aimed to investigate issues related to the evaluation of interventions producing changes in traffic configuration and to develop an information system (Road safety Impact Assessment - RIA Module) to be integrated in an existing Decision Support System on road safety.The research created a library of SPF and developed an information system, called “RIA Module”, updating the existing “DSS - ISIDE”, developed by CTL.

Typical Deficiencies in Traffic Safety and Irregularities of Slovenian Roads

In the past three years the first pilot projects in the fields of RSIA (Road Safety Impact Assessment), RSA (Road Safety Audit) and RSI (Road Safety Inspection) have been carried out in Slovenia. The guidelines for these three areas were thus drafted according to the first findings stemming from conducted pilot projects.This paper deals with the findings from the first Slovenian pilot projects in RSI and presents the typical traffic safety deficiencies and irregularities of Slovenian roads and motorways. Pilot projects covered about 36km of motorways and approximately 24km of other state roads.

Policy Instruments for Managing EU Road Safety Targets: Road Safety Impact Assessment

The Directive 2008/96/EC of European Parliament and of the Council requires the establishment and implementation of procedures relating to road safety impact assessments, road safety audits, the management of road network safety and safety inspections by the Member States. Directive aims to develop procedures with the aim of increasing safety of road infrastructures. Road Safety Impact Assessment (RSIA) is an initial part of road infrastructure safety management systems. This article describes the scope of RSIA procedures, provides detailed recommendations on qualification of auditors, implementation and execution of procedures for the EU Member States. Road safety should play an important role when routes are being selected and safety awareness should be included in the decision making during the designing/planning stage. RSIA is a very beneficial tool that could increase transparency and availability of information, consequently, it leads all parties concerned to well-informed decisions.