A Road Safety Audit (RSA) is a formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team. It is a community approach to solve a problematic stretch of road or intersection in an area. Bringing together Metropolitan Planning Organizations, County Engineers, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) representatives, local Law Enforcement, and/or any other relevant stake-holders; the involved parties work together to identify the safety concerns, as well as find solutions to combat the problematic stretch of road or intersection. It is a system built to bring in multiple entities with different backgrounds and schools of thought for a common goal of finding economic and realistic solutions to the problematic areas.
RSA’s are a proactive approach to identify solutions to a problematic area examined by different branches of road safety professionals. These road safety professionals go into the field and look first-hand at the problematic areas. Together, solutions can be discussed on site as a way to ensure safety to these roads.
NIRPC staff members took part in this audit process as a way to learn the process and be able to replicate the system to assist Northwest Indiana. NIRPC is looking into the potential of becoming a technical assistant for municipalities to conduct this system to ensure safer roads in Northwest Indiana.