What is a Road Safety Audit?

A Road Safety Audit is an evaluation of a highway improvement scheme during design, at the end of construction and post-construction, to identify road safety problems and to suggest measures to eliminate or mitigate any concerns. Road Safety Audits are undertaken by teams of specialists trained in the skills of collision investigation and/or road safety engineering.

All strategic road schemes and the majority of new works are required to have an independent Road Safety Audit. Road Safety Audits aim to identify potential road safety hazards arising from planned changes to the road layout but they are not technical checks against design standards or traffic regulations.

In carrying out Road Safety Audits, the Audit team should consider road safety issues for all road users and will ask two key questions of the scheme

  • Who could be hurt in a collision on this part of the road and how could that happen?
  • What can be done to reduce the potential for that collision or to limit its consequences?

Road Safety Audits

Safety Audits are conducted in accordance with HD19/15 of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (Road Safety Audit)

Road Safety Audits go through four key phases and are as follows:-

Sometimes the Safety Audits can be combined; most often if the works are smaller in nature, or time scales are tight a Stage 1 & 2 Road Safety Audit maybe carried out together.

Some highway improvement schemes may not require Stage 4 Road Safety Audits unless the relevant authority request further collision monitoring/investigation.

The Road Safety Audit team members may be from the same company undertaking the Highway Improvement scheme design but have to be independent of any scheme design or process.

Road Safety Audits may be undertaken on highway schemes covering:

  • Major and minor highway improvements
  • Traffic management and calming schemes
  • Pedestrian and cycling schemes
  • Roundabout junctions
  • New or amended traffic signal junctions
  • Priority junctions
  • Motorway improvement

Non-Motorised User Audits

Government policy encourages consideration of the needs of non-motorised users and supports efforts to increase safety and accessibility by non-motorised modes.

The non-motorised user audit is defined as: A systematic process applied to Highway Schemes, by which the Design Team identifies scheme objectives for non-motorised users, documents the design decisions affecting non-motorised users, and reviews designs and construction to assess how well objectives have been achieved.

Non-motorised users are considered to be pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. Non-motorised user audits require particular consideration to be given to the needs of disabled people, who may use any of these modes or other equipment such as wheelchairs.

Require Assistance with a Road Safety Audit?

Sanderson Associates have extensive experience in providing Road Safety Audits for a wide variety of major and minor developments throughout the whole of the UK, Isle of Man and Ireland.

One of our Road Safety Auditors holds the Road Safety Audit, Highways England Approved Certificate of Competency, we are therefore able to carry out Road Safety Audits on the Trunk Road Network that comply with the detailed requirements of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges HD 19/15.

We would be pleased to provide you with our competitive fee proposal to provide you with our Road Safety Audit Services, please call us on 01924 844080 or click here to complete our secure online form.


What our Clients' say:

Access Appraisal in Support of the Reinstatement of Access to a Residential Dwelling

Tue 7 August 2018

Brett, I would just like to pass on my personal thanks for the assistance you offered us in our planning application to reinstate an unused driveway into our renovation property. From the initial contact with the office staff, through the quote and the carrying out of the road survey, drawings, and associated work through to […]

Highway Technical Letter in Support of Residential Development – Testimonial

Thu 25 January 2018

Excellent service, very professional and enabled a very positive response back to the Highways Agency with a site plan we were having difficulties with. I’d highly recommend Sanderson’s. Peter Wilson, Individual

Transport Statement and Access Advice, Residential Development Circa 60 Dwellings – Testimonial

Fri 5 May 2017

During the course of the compiling the report for submission to planning I found Adam Darwin’s attitude and approach was very professional and supportive. We had several issues to resolve and I found him to respond very quickly and produce revised drawing for discussion with an excellent turnaround time. His phone manner and advice were […]

Flood Risk Assessment, Data Centre, Keighley

Wed 8 March 2017

Good communication and persistence coupled with a high level of professional expertise, has enabled what looked initially to be an insurmountable objection to be overcome. J O Steel, J O Steel Consulting, Bingley

Swept Path Analysis, New Build House, Testimonial

Wed 15 February 2017

Sandersons were appointed to conduct our swept path analysis study for a modern new build house in London. We found the service personable, attentive and thorough. Further, when confronted by a design problem, they were creative and positively contributed to its resolution. Ben Kirk, Associate, Edgley Design

Transport Statement – Proposed Residential Development, Shipley

Thu 8 December 2016

You were recommended to us for a housing site where you had previous experience of the neighbouring land. Every part of the experience was simple and positive and we have no problem recommending your services and consider you for further works. From us at Lumia Homes part of Incommunities Housing Association we would like to […]

Transport Statement, Proposed Residential Development, 6 Detached Dwellings

Wed 23 November 2016

Mr Greenwood is a highway wizard and worked his magic on the Hardingham scheme, without Sandersons input I am confident this scheme would have not passed… Henry Isotta-Day – Architectural Design Engineer, Clayland Architects

Flood Risk Assessment, Proposed Residential Development, Cobham, Surrey

Fri 28 October 2016

We were very pleased with the service received and the positive outcome for our client, and would not hesitate to recommend for flood risk assessments. Thanks very much for helping us with this project. Malcolm Jenkins, Architect, Malcom Jenkins Associates

Technical Letter in Support of Residential Development

Thu 28 July 2016

Recently worked with Robert in order to turn round a planning application which was being recommended for refusal due to Highways objections at the eleventh hour. On this one we had to really think out of the box quickly to mitigate the concerns. Robert was instrumental in coming up with options and innovative ideas and […]

Stage 3 Road Safety Audit

Mon 25 July 2016

The service provided was professional direct to the point and alternatives were provided on discussion of the reports requirements, a user friendly service in every way to a legacy job with very little background information. Thank you Steven Johnston – Keepmoat Regeneration Ltd

Road Safety Audit, Road Safety Problems, RSA Stage 1 Road Safety Audit, Stage 2 Road Safety Audit, Stage 3 Road Safety Audit Stage 4 Road Safety Audit, Non Motorised User Audit