Safety Audits
Accident Record Analysis & Remedial Measures
All trunk road schemes and most new works on Local Authority roads are required to be the subject of an independent safety audit. The Safety Audit is conducted to ensure that ‘operational road safety experience is applied during the design and construction process in order that the number and severity of accidents is kept to a minimum.’
Safety audits are carried out at key stages during the design and construction process:
• Stage 1. Completion of the Preliminary Design
This may be the last opportunity to establish land requirements. It is therefore essential to consider road safety issues which may have a bearing on land take.
• Stage 2. Completion of Detailed Design
At this stage the audit is concerned with the more detailed aspects. The Audit Team will consider the layout of junctions, vertical alignment, drainage, positions of signs, carriageway markings, lighting provision and other such issues. For smaller schemes it is often possible to combine Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits.
• Stage 3. Completion of Construction
The audit should be undertaken when the works are substantially complete and preferably before the works are opened to road users. The Auditors will examine the works from all users’ viewpoints and will drive/walk/cycle through the scheme as appropriate.
• Stage 4. Monitoring
The highway authority will arrange for the sheme to be monitored after 12 and 36 months to see if any accidents have occured and to identify if any further safety related measures should be implemented.
Process
At each stage of the auditing process, the audit Team are required to identify safety related problems and to make recommendations for eliminating or reducing those problems.
Key members of MB Safety have a wealth of practical experience in the conduct of Safety Audits and the design of remedial measures to overcome safety related problems. Experience has been gained during the conduct of more than 1000 Audit reports which have been submitted to in excess of fifty Highway Authorities throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. Key members are also involved in Accident Investigation & Reconstruction work, and this experience in understanding the causes of road traffic accidents provides invaluable input to our safety audit reports.
We have extensive practical experience in the design of cost effective accident remedial schemes.
Our analysis of factors common to patterns of accidents is used as a basis for deisgning engineering solutions. Such solutions can bring significant savings in accidents and the associated costs.
Head of MB Safety, John Reid has some thirty years experience of accident investigation highway safety engineering, including seventeen years as Accident Studies Officer for Norfolk County Council.
The MB team of auditors is experienced in liaising with both Developers and Local authorities to achieve optimum safety solutions.Liaison with local authority and police representatives enables us to keep abreast of latest trends and innovative solutions to accident problems and to traffic management generally.
Experience gained in all aspects of accident investigation and prevention enables MB Safety to provide advice and assistance with the formulation of traffic impact assessments, and the design of development-led infrastructure.
Areas of Expertise
- Conduct of independent safety Audits in accordance with Highways Agency Guidelines.
- Accident record analysis.
- Site inspections, scale plan, written and photographic records.
- Design and costing of accident remedial schemes.
- Liaison as required to develop cost effective solutions to safety problems.
- Cognisance of guidelines for reducing mobility handicaps.