Rural roads are not only necessary for regional community connectedness, but they are also vital for the movement of commodities and freight for the varied industries and businesses found in both rural and urban areas. However, the nature of rural roads contributes to a higher risk of vehicle accidents and a higher severity of injuries sustained.
Although the State Government is responsible for major arterial roads, local governments are responsible for the maintenance of their road assets, and as this responsibility can use up to 82% or their annual asset consumption, it is important that they are wise in their expenditure and spend their funds where they are most needed. However, the main reason audits are conducted is for safety. Road Safety Audits are a proactive process to try and prevent crashes from occurring.
GenEng is regularly commissioned by regional councils and the Department of Transport and Main Roads to conduct Road Safety Audits in order to identify hazards, safety performance and crash potential. We have on staff several certified road safety auditors and two Senior Road Safety Officers. This means that we can provide safety audits for not only existing road networks, but also at the pre-construction phase where potential road safety issues can be identified. In fact, the greatest benefits of Road Safety Audits can be gained at the feasibility, planning, and pre-design stages—it is far more cost effective to make changes to the design before construction has commenced than to conduct remedial work once the road is in use.
Some of the Road Safety Audits we have delivered include:
- Post Construction Audit of New England Highway (Yarraman – Toowoomba) for Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Detailed Design Stage Audit of the proposed upgrade of the North-East Roundabout, Gatton for the Lockyer Valley Regional Council
- Existing Roads Audit of Old Stanthorpe Road, Stanthorpe for the Southern Downs Regional Council
- Detailed review of Pedestrian Crossings for approved Blackspot Projects, Warwick for the Southern Downs Regional Council
We also provide safety audits to assist Councils with submissions for funding applications to road safety programs (such as the Blackspot Projects program).