In-Service Road Safety Audits

Abstract

A ROAD SAFETY AUDIT IS A FORMAL ANALYSIS THAT SEEKS TO GUARANTEE THAT AN EXISTING OR FUTURE ROAD FULFILLS OPTIMAL SAFETY CRITERIA, CONDUCTED BY A TEAM OF EXPERTS WHO SE MEMBERS ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE ROAD PROJECT. IT CAN BE CARRIED OUT IN ONE, SEVERAL OR ALL OF THE STAGES OF THE PROJECT (PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, BEFORE OPENING THE ROAD TO TRAFFIC, AND OPERATION). THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A ROAD SAFETY AUDIT PROCESS IS ONE OF THE STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED IN MEXICO IN RECENT YEARS TO REDUCE ROAD ACCIDENTS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED CONSEQUENCES. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS WORK IS TO PRESENT THE PROCEDURES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND APPLIED IN MEXICO, AS WELL AS THE BENEFITS AND PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED. THE APPLICATION OF THOSE PROCEDURES TO A SPECIFIC CASE IS AL SO SHOWN. EMPHASIS IS MADE IN THE AUDIT OF HIGH WAYS IN THE OPERATION STAGE, WHICH IS THE TYPE THAT GREATER APPLICATION AND DEVELOPMENT HAS HAD IN MEXICO.