Citation

Rodrigues J. Proc. Road Saf. Four Continents Conf. 2005; 13: 12p.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Conference Sponsor)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Road Safety Audit (RSA) is an excellent tool to identify safety issues on road projects and present a proactive approach to improve transportation safety. Road Safety practices tend to reflect local regulation, and behavior, as one of the objectives of detailed technical regulations and guidelines is to ensure road safety through good practices on road design, maintenance and traffic control. Various aspects of accident reduction programs, in Brazil nowadays, are based upon the development of remedial measures at sites or locations with a high frequency of accidents. A new approach is necessary to focus on accident prevention, with a proactive approach to improve road safety before accident records and to ensure that the road system is safe. This approach involves besides others components the use of road safety audit. Road safety audit in Brazil is not yet considered as a part of an inherent process to achieve safety. Developed countries found out that investments in road safety can save lives and money. That experience should impact developing countries to adjust their procedures and investments, to pay more attention on road safety, and raise the awareness of the government, society and traffic and road engineers. Our country can not stand the high numbers accidents, injuries, death and property damages. Is a higher price to pay for this negligence: lives, money and health care time. Although all the clear benefits RSA are not incorporated or disseminated as a common practice in Brazil. RSA practices in Brazil are still incipient, with just a few audits performed. These guidelines intends to be a small step in this direction, making road safety audit more feasible and well known throughout Brazil, providing some tools and procedures to achieve that.