Road Safety

Improving road safety is one of the five major priorities for Austroads over the next three years. The continuing reduction in road trauma is a key objective of all Austroads members. The Guide to Road Safety provides guidance to Austroads members on identified road safety issues, and refers to other Guides where road safety is a key consideration.

Each Austroads Guide has an associated review panel comprised of senior representatives from Austroads jurisdictions and key stakeholders. The purpose of the review panel is to oversee the development of the Guides. Review panel members advise on the scope, structure and broad content of the Guides and facilitate development and ongoing maintenance of the Guides.

This page provides information about the structure and current status of the Guide to Road Safety is updated as parts of the Guide are released. Parts 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 have been completed and are available from the Austroads publications website.

The Guide to Road Safety covers the following areas:

Part 1: Road Safety Overview

Introduction of core concepts of road safety and overview of the Guide:

• road safety measurement
• road safety management.

Part 2: Road Safety Strategy and Evaluation

Overview of road safety plans and essential processes:

• evidence-based approach to road safety
• strategic partnerships
• setting realistic goals
• safer roads, vehicles and road users
• monitoring and review.

Part 3: Speed Limits and Speed Management

Function of speed limits:

• relation to road hierarchy
• setting speed limits
• time-based speed limits
• signing and marking
• speed management.

Part 4: Local Government and Community Road Safety - due for release December 2008

Role of local governments and communities in road safety:

• strategic partnerships and capacity building
• developing a road safety strategy
• funding a plan and mobilising resources
• implementation
• case studies
• monitoring
• evaluation and review.

Part 5: Safety for Rural and Remote Areas

Special considerations in rural and remote areas:

• fatigue management
• community road safety programs
• road design (including delineation)
• tourist and other directional signing
• incident detection and patient retrieval.

Part 6: Road Safety Audit - due for release December 2008

Update of an earlier Austroads publication covering road safety audits.

Part 7: Road Network Risk Assessment and Management

Road authorities' responsibility for managing risk and principles of risk management.

Part 8: Treatment of Crash Locations - due for release December 2008

Update of an earlier Austroads publication covering remedial actions at locations where crashes have occurred.

Part 9: Roadside Hazard Management

• identification of roadside hazards
• clear zone theory
• delineation
• treatment of the hazard (i.e. removal, relocation, modification or protection)
• treatments in environmentally sensitive areas.