FHWA Road Safety Audit Guidelines

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Pre-construction Phase

Prompt List 2 – Preliminary Design Stage Audit

General Topics

1. Drainage
2. Landscaping
3. Utility accommodations
4. Access to property and developments
5. Adjacent developments
6. Emergency vehicles and access
7. Future reconstruction projects (widening and/or realignments)
8. Staging of construction
9. Maintenance
10. Human factors
11. Changes since previous audit

Design Issues

1. Design Standards
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
7. Flexibility of the design
8. Design consistency

Alignment Details

1. Geometry of horizontal and vertical alignment
2. Visibility and sight distance
3. New/existing road transitions
4. 'Readability' (perception) of the alignment by drivers

Intersections

1. Visibility to and visibility at intersections
2. Layout, including the appropriateness of type
3. 'Readability' (perception) by drivers
4. Pedestrians, bicyclists
5. Design consistency

Interchanges

1. Visibility
2. Layout, control
3. Lanes, shoulders
4. Ramps
5. Pedestrians, bicyclists
6. Design consistency
7. Clearances, visual perception of structures

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

Traffic Management

1. Traffic flow and access restrictions
2. Passing and merges
3. Rest areas and stopping zones
4. Construction and operation

Environmental Constraints

1. Surrounding terrain
2. Weather, sunlight
3. Noise barriers, animal fencing
4. Animal crossings
5. Visual distractions
6. Unstable land

Safety Aspects Not Already Covered

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

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