Road safety audits and inspections : guidelines : [Handbook 222]

This handbook describes the basic principles, requirements, responsibilities, guidelines and methods for undertaking road safety audits and inspections at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. Road safety audit of existing roads will, as mentioned in the foreword, hereafter be called road safety inspection. This is being done because it is considered to be a more appropriate designation of a method and process regarding existing road and is in line with terms used in other European countries. It is important that both the Public Roads Administration and the municipalities consider road safety early in the planning process based on recognition of the principle that it is simpler and cheaper to prevent than to repair. When the damage has been done and a road has been constructed with serious safety deficiencies, or new insight has revealed other hazardous conditions, it is important that road safety inspections are undertaken promptly to prevent accidents from happening or to reduce the severity of a possible accident. The handbook describes method and procedure for planning, undertaking and documenting road safety audits and road safety inspections at the Public Roads Administration, and is a guide to be used in this work