Kristian DUUS JASPERS Regional Office for Central Europe, Vienna

1. The WorkshopHow to reduce the number of traffic accidents by 50% during 3 yearsIntegration ofRoad Safety Auditin the road design processand other road safety related issues Kristian DUUS JASPERS Regional Office for Central Europe, Vienna

2. Contents of this presentation:1. Some key figures to underline the importance of road safety in road investment programmes2. Tools and their impact3. The principles of road safety audit (RSA)4. Institutional integration of RSA in road agencies5. Examples and illustrations6. Impact of RSA on accident reduction

3. Why focus on Road Safety Audit in the Operational Programme Transport?

4. The OP for economic growth in Lithuania 2007 – 2013 Key figures Priority Axis 5 : • 66 km of new motorways • 315 km new and rehabilitation in total Objective 4: Reduction of accident rates 4

5. The Economic Cost of Road Accidents in Lithuania Key figures • 2010: Economic losses amounts to 1.32 billion Litas (382 M EUR) • Approximately 1% of national GDP 5

6. Traffic distribution 80 % of all traffic on 20% of the road network motorways & national roads Major roads projects a key target Key figures 6

7. per mill. inhabitants, EU 2009 Key figures Lithuania 2009: 110 2010: 92 7

8. Key figures Percentage change in road accident fatalities during 2001 - 2010 Source: www.baltris.org

9. Key figures • The number of fatal and serious accidents is falling in Lithuania  • Very well, but can we explain why?

10. Key figures • Better roads? • Better cars? • Safer design? • Speed bump • Street lights • Roundabouts • Etc……. • More law enforcement? • Better education?

11. Tools and their impact • Indeed a mixture of several actions and developments • It is important to know which medicine works – to continue and improve the cure! • Road Safety Audit is a tool proven to yield positive cost effective results

12. Means of road safety interventions Tools and their impact • Enforcement: speed, alcohol, seat belt etc. • Improving vehicle safety • Implementing ITS on roads (intelligent transport systems) • Education in schools • Road safety audit • Accident data collection and processing (very essential to decide targeted actions) • Black Spot projects • Information campaigns (TV, bill boards ..) 12

13. Tools and their impact EC Road Safety Directive 2008/96/EC • Applicable on TEN-T road network • Art. 3, road safety impact assessment • Art. 4, road safety audit • Art. 5, safety ranking (black/grey spots) • Art. 6, safety inspections • Art. 7, Accident data management (fatalities) • Art. 9, RSA curricula adopted by 19 Dec. 2011 • Art 14, transposition, 19 Dec. 2010 13

14. Tools and their impact Inspections and audits Road Safety Inspections & Ranking of existing roads Accident investigations and safety surveys Used as a cure on existing road network to improve road safety based on safety performance Road Safety Audit on new roads A focussed independent safety check applying accumulated experience on road safety Used as prevention in design of new infrastructure or in case of rehabilitation works 14

15. Tools and their impact • Lithuania is already advancing fast in improving road safety • There is an growing experience among various experts and practitioners • Many actions related to RSA have already been done in the past

16. Safety inspections and ranking • Through accident records traffic police and road authority know where the critical spots and sections are • Black spots and sections are identified and analysed • Solutions are found by road authority & police in cooperation with other institutions

17. Safety inspections and ranking • Implementation according to resources • Monitoring and follow-up • Enforcement, education and information • State, regional and district level

18. Safety inspections and ranking European Road Assessment Programme EuroRAP International Road Assessment Programme IRAP

19. Safety inspections and ranking

20. Safety inspections and ranking Accident data processing and management

21. Road Safety Audit

22. What is RSA – a definition • A formal systematic road safety assessment of a road scheme carried out by an independent, qualified auditor who reports on the project’s accident potential for all kinds of road users Elvik & Sørensen 2007 “Put on your blinkers!” 22

23. How to introduce RSA in the national system Based on the Danish Manual of RSA • Organisation • Procedure • Project Phases • Training of Auditors 23

24. Organisation (1) How to introduce RSA Client – Designer – Auditor Define and divide the responsibilities between the three parties prior to RSA 24

25. How to introduce RSA Organisation (2) • The Client – owner of the road infrastructure e.g LRA • The Designer – responsible for planning, design, launch of RSA, and response to RSA report • The Auditor, carries out an independent critical safety review of the project 25

26. Organisation (3) How to introduce RSA Client = highway authority or municipality Designer = HA design dept. or consultant Auditor = HA safety dept. or consultant 26

27. 1 The RSA procedure 27

28. 2 The RSA procedure Ordering – Reviewing - Completion • The designer orders the review • The auditor examines the project and reports to the designer (Check list) • The designer responds to the RSA report • The auditor declares the RSA complete 28

29. The RSA procedure 3 Client Designer Auditor Ideal relationship between the three parties

30. Defining the stages How to introduce RSA • (Pre) feasibility study, planning • Preliminary design • Detailed design • Opening • Monitoring (road safety inspections) RSA can be carried out at any of these five stages!! 30

31. Training (1) How to introduce RSA • Set up the training curricula for road safety auditors • Training Institution: • the existing institute for continuing professional development in the road sector • the road engineering faculty at the universities • The National Road Safety Council • other 31

32. Training (2) How to introduce RSA Candidates for RSA training: • Road engineers and planners with at least 3-5 years of practical experience from road authority or road consultancy • 2-3 years of experience with road safety analysis 32

33. Training (3) How to introduce RSA Course duration for experienced trainees: • 1-2 weeks intensive course Course duration for trainees with limited road safety experience • To be assessed individually 33

34. Benefits of Road Safety Audits • Safety risks for different user groups are identified (cars, pedestrians, bicycles) • Expensive reconstruction can be avoided if RSA is done already at design stage • Reduces socio-economic cost caused by accidents • Improves design quality through structured discussions between planners 34

35. Example of RSA (Phase 1) remarks and recommendations 35

36. Project example - any problems? 36

37. Project example -new four leg junctions 37

38. Examples of RSA recommendations • Make roundabouts when appropriate 38

39. Examples of RSA recommendations or staggered junctions 39

40. Project example – Stage 5 40

41. Project example – Stage 5 41

42. Examples of RSA recommendations • Provide rumble strips on road edge – to alert road users 42

43. Examples of RSA recommendations • Guard rails 43

44. Any safety problems? 44

45. Maybe! 45

46. A solution - provide side barriers 46

47. Examples: Speed calming measures 47

48. Cost of road safety audit (average) • Up to 4% of road design cost • Approx. 0,25% of construction cost • Construction: 50 M EUR • Constrution with RSA: 50,1 M EUR 48

49. Impact of RSA on accident rates (1) • Denmark, 13 projects, >25 accidents saved per year, additional project cost due to RSA was 1,2% • Germany, RSA may prevent up to 70% of all accidents on newly constructed roads 49

50. Impact of RSA on accident rates (2) • UK, Surrey County, compared 38 projects of which RSA was carried out on half of them: With RSA – 60% drop in casualties without RSA – 10% drop in casualties • USA, road safety inspections and follow-up improvements on existing roads led to 20-40% reduction of accidents 50