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FHWA Road Safety Audit Guidelines

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Pre-construction Phase

Prompt List 3 – Final Design Stage Audit

General Topics

  1. Drainage
  2. Landscaping
  3. Utilities
  4. Access to property and developments
  5. Emergencies; break downs; emergency and service vehicle access
  6. Future reconstruction projects (widening and/or realignments)
  7. Staging of construction
  8. Adjacent developments
  9. Stability of cut and fill
  10. Skid Resistance
  11. Maintenance
  12. Human Factors
  13. Changes since previous audit

Design Issues

  1. Geometry of horizontal and vertical alignment
  2. Typical cross sections and recovery zones
  3. Effect of cross sectional variation
  4. Roadway layout
  5. Shoulders and edge treatment
  6. Effect of departures from standards or guidelines

Alignment Details

  1. Visibility and sight distance
  2. New/existing road transitions
  3. 'Readability' (perception) of the alignment by drivers
  4. Detail of geometric design
  5. Transitions to bridges and culverts
  6. Combinations of features

Intersections

  1. Visibility to and visibility at intersections
  2. Layout
  3. 'Readability' (perception) by drivers
  4. Pedestrians, bicyclists
  5. Detailed geometric design
  6. Traffic signals
  7. Signing and marking
  8. Roundabouts
  9. Other Intersections
  10. Lighting

Interchanges

  1. Visibility
  2. Layout
  3. Lanes, shoulders
  4. Ramps
  5. Pedestrians, bicyclists
  6. Signing and marking
  7. Clearances, visual perception of structures
  8. Lighting

Special Road Users

  1. Adjacent land
  2. Pedestrians
  3. Bicyclists
  4. Older drivers
  5. Motorcyclists
  6. Equestrians and stock
  7. Motor carriers
  8. Public transport
  9. Road maintenance vehicles
  10. Snowmobiles and ATVs
  11. Special (slow moving) vehicles

Lighting, Signs and Delineation

  1. Lighting
  2. Signs
  3. Marking and delineation

Roadside

  1. Median barriers
  2. Poles and other obstructions
  3. Roadside barriers
  4. Pedestrian railing
  5. Bridges, culverts and causeways/floodways

Environmental Constraints

  1. Weather, sunlight
  2. Noise barriers, wildlife fencing
  3. Animal crossings
  4. Visual distractions
  5. Unstable land

Safety Aspects Not Already Covered

Special events, consequent unusual or hazardous conditions, oversize vehicles, etc.

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