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FHWA Home / Safety / Road Safety Audits (RSA) / Road Safety Audit Guidelines

FHWA Road Safety Audit Guidelines

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Construction Phase

Prompt List 5 – Pre-Opening Stage Audit

General Topics

  1. Drainage
  2. Climatic conditions
  3. Landscaping
  4. Utilities
  5. Access to property and developments
  6. Emergency vehicles and access
  7. Side slope treatment
  8. Shoulders and edge delineators
  9. Signs and markings
  10. Surface treatment, skid resistance
  11. Changes since previous audit: translation of design into practice
  12. Contrast with markings
  13. Roadside hazards
  14. Natural features
  15. All road users
  16. Speed zoning
  17. Human factors

Alignment Details

  1. Visibility, sight distance
  2. New/existing road transitions
  3. ‘Readability’ (perception) of the alignment by drivers
  4. Bridges and culverts

Intersections

  1. Visibility of intersection
  2. Visibility at intersection
  3. ‘Readability (perception) by drivers
  4. Pedestrians, bicyclists
  5. Traffic signals
  6. Signing and marking
  7. Roundabouts and approach islands
  8. Lighting

Interchanges

  1. Visibility, sight distance
  2. ‘Readability’ (perception) by drivers
  3. Signing, marking, delineation
  4. Pedestrians, bicyclists
  5. Lighting

Special Road Users

  1. Adjacent land
  2. Pedestrians
  3. Bicyclists
  4. Older drivers
  5. Motorcyclists
  6. Equestrians
  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

Operation

  1. Operation
  2. Traffic management
  3. Removal of temporary traffic control/ management devices

Safety Aspects Not Already Covered

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Page last modified on October 15, 2014
Safe Roads for a Safer Future - Investment in roadway safety saves lives
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000