Road Safety Audit Checklist

Is sight distance adequate for the speed of traffic using the route?

Is adequate sight distance provided for intersections and crossings (e.g., pedestrian, cyclist, cattle, railway)?

Is adequate sight distance provided at all private driveways and property entrances?

Are roadside drains and culvert end walls traversable?

Is the horizontal and vertical alignment suitable for the (85th percentile) traffic speed?

If not, are warning signs and advisory speed signs installed?

Are the posted advisory speeds for curves appropriate?

Is the speed limit compatible with the function, road geometry, land use, and sight distance?

Are safe overtaking opportunities provided?

Is the road free of elements that may cause confusion?

Is the alignment of the roadway clearly defined?

Has disused pavement (if any) been removed or treated?

Have old pavement markings been removed properly?

Do tree lines follow the road alignment?

Does the line of street lights or the poles follow the road alignment?

Is the road free of misleading curves or combinations of curves?

Are medians and islands of adequate width for the likely users?

Are traffic lane and carriageway widths adequate for the traffic volume and mix?

Are bridge widths adequate?

Are shoulders wide enough to allow drivers to regain control of errant vehicles?

Are shoulders wide enough for broken-down or emergency vehicles to stop safely?

Are shoulders sealed?

Are shoulders trafficable for all vehicles and road users (i.e., are shoulders in good condition)?

Is the transition from road to shoulder safe (no drop-offs)?

Is appropriate superelevation provided on curves?

Is any adverse crossfall safely managed (for cars, trucks, etc.)?

Do crossfalls (carriageway and shoulder) provide adequate drainage?

Are batter slopes traversable by cars and trucks that run off the road?

Are starting and finishing tapers located and aligned correctly

Is there sufficient sight distance to the end of the auxiliary lane?

Are appropriate shoulder widths provided at merges?

Have shoulder widths been maintained beside the auxiliary lane?

Have all signs been installed in accordance with the appropriate guidelines?

Are all signs conspicuous and clear?

Does all line marking conform to these guidelines?

Is there an advance warning of approaching auxiliary lanes?

Have right turns from the through lane been avoided?

Is there an advance warning of turn lanes?

Are all intersections located safely with respect to the horizontal and vertical alignment?

Where intersections occur at the end of high-speed environments (e.g., at approaches to towns), are there traffic control devices to alert drivers?

Is the presence of each intersection obvious to all road users?

Is the sight distance appropriate for all movements and all road users?

Is there a stopping sight distance to the rear of any queue or slow-moving turning vehicles?

Has the appropriate sight distance been provided for entering and leaving vehicles?

Are pavement markings and intersection control signs satisfactory?

Are vehicle paths through intersections delineated satisfactorily?

Are all lanes properly marked (including any arrows)?

Are all conflict points between vehicles safely managed?

Is the intersection layout obvious to all road users?

Is the alignment of curbs obvious and appropriate?

Is the alignment of traffic islands obvious and appropriate?

Is the alignment of medians obvious and appropriate?

Can all likely vehicle types be accommodated?

Are merge tapers long enough?

Is the intersection free of capacity problems that may produce safety problems?

Particularly at rural sites, are all intersections free of loose gravel?

Has lighting been adequately provided where required?

Is the road free of features that interrupt illumination (e.g., trees or overbridges)?

Is the road free of lighting poles that are fixed roadside hazards?

Are frangible or slip-base poles provided?

If ambient lighting creates special lighting needs, have these been satisfied?

Is the lighting scheme free of confusing or misleading effects on signals or signs?

Is the scheme free of any lighting black patches?

Are all necessary regulatory, warning, and direction signs in place? Are they conspicuous and clear?

Are the correct signs used for each situation, and is each sign necessary?

Are all signs effective for all likely conditions (e.g., day, night, rain, fog, rising or setting sun, oncoming headlights, poor lighting)?

If restrictions apply for any class of vehicle, are drivers adequately advised?

If restrictions apply for any class of vehicle, are drivers advised of alternative routes?

In daylight and darkness, are signs satisfactory regarding: • Clarity of message? • Readability/legibility at the required distance?

Is the sign retro-reflectivity or illumination satisfactory?

Are signs able to be seen without being hidden by their background or adjacent distractions?

Is driver confusion due to too many signs being avoided?

Are sign supports out of the clear zone? If not, are they: • Frangible? • Shielded by barriers (e.g., guard fence, crash cushions)?

Is the line marking and delineation appropriate for the function of the road?

Is it consistent along the route?

Is it likely to be effective under all expected conditions (day, night, wet, dry, fog, rising and setting sun position, oncoming headlights, etc.)?

Is the pavement free of excessive markings (e.g., unnecessary turn arrows, unnecessary barrier lines, etc.)?

Are centrelines, edge lines, and lane lines provided? If not, do drivers have adequate guidance?

Have RRPMs been installed where required?

If RRPMs are installed, are they correctly placed, correct colors, and in good condition?

Are profiled (audible) edge lines provided where required?

Is the line marking in good condition?

Is there sufficient contrast between line marking and pavement color?

Are guideposts appropriately installed?

Are delineators clearly visible?

Are the correct colors used for the delineators?

Are the delineators on guard fences, crash barriers, and bridge railings consistent with those on guideposts?

Are curve warning signs and advisory speed signs installed where required?

Are advisory speed signs consistent along the route?

Are the signs correctly located in relation to the curve? (i.e. not too far in advance)

Are the signs large enough?

Are chevron alignment markers (CAMs) installed where required?

Is the positioning of CAMs satisfactory to provide guidance around the curve?

Are the CAMs the correct size?

Are CAMs confined to curves? (not used to delineate islands, etc)

Is the clear zone width traversable? (i.e., drivable)

Is the clear zone width free of rigid fixtures? (If not, can all these rigid fixtures be removed or shielded?)

Are all power poles, trees, etc., at a safe distance from the traffic paths?

Is the appropriate treatment or protection provided for any objects within the clear zone?

Are crash barriers installed where necessary?