1. Road Safety Inspection in Austria Thomas Fessl Best in Europe Conference Brussels, February 21-22 2006

2. Road Safety Inspection (RSI) is a periodical controlling instrument of the existing road network (including roadsides), independently of number of accidents. RSI allows the implementation of remedial measures before accidents occur. source:High Level Working Group on Road Infrastructure Safety, 2003 Road Safety Inspection Road Safety Inspection of Austrian motor- and expressways

3. expressway inspected sections 2003,2004,2005 sections under inspection A 2 A 8 A 7 S 36 S 31 A 4 A 10 A 9 S 6 S 35 A 9 A 8 A 21 A 1 A 9 A 2 A 12 A 14 A 22 S 4 In Austria, Road Safety Inspection of motorways and expressways started in July 2003. - 2003 and 2004: 11 inspected sections - 2005/2006: 10 sections motorway

4. Road Safety Inspection Road Safety Inspection of Austrian motor- and expressways RSI in a team (road safety experts & civil engineers) including: accident analysis – accident map analysis of the traffic conditions analysis of the constructional elements inspection – on-site visit meetings and interviews with motorway maintenance unit and traffic police analysis of road surface (pavement rating - ruts, friction, …) analysis of road maintenance measures analysis of road environment remedial measures (short-, medium-, long term)

5. Example: section A 2 South motorway - Wechsel (Lower Austria) Accident map Catalogue of proposed measures installation of a speeding warning system structural measures (long term): - to broaden the shoulder lane - corrections of crossfalls lane markings with increased night visibility in wet road conditions improvement of winter maintenance tunnel Road Safety Inspection Road Safety Inspection of Austrian motor- and expressways interchange Krumbach interchange Edlitz interchange Zöbern rest area Zöbern province border variable speed limit existing speed camera – to be in operation permanently existing speed camera

6. Road Safety Inspection Road Safety Inspection of Austrian motor- and expressways MeasuresStatusTime of implementation /planning Qualitative evaluation Short term Section Control has been implemented February 2005personal injury accident: reduction of 60 % damage – only accident reduction of 30 % Accident investigation in the area of the Section Control currently being carried out results in June 2006 - Lane markings with increased night visibility in wet road conditions has been implemented 2005no improvement (according to the motorway maintenance unit) Section A 2 South motorway - Wechsel

7. At present, Road Safety Inspection pilot study on secondary road networks (contracted by the Austrian Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology): RSI is carried out at seven selected sections in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland: rural roads municipal roads The results of the RSI (sections) will be reflected in a draft guideline in May 2006. Road Safety Inspection Road Safety Inspection of secondary road networks in Austria

8. RIPCORD-ISEREST (WP5) Best Practice Guidelines on Safety Inspection Start: January 2005 End: September 2007 Goals:  Standardised approach for RSI in Europe  Setting up of implementation plan  Developing of checklists  Carrying out of practicability tests Road Safety Inspection within the 6FP Project RIPCORD-ISEREST

9. Main problems in defining a common understanding of RSI  Existence of great number of RSI approaches across Europe  Lack of a standardised RSI approach within the countries  No legal basis for RSI in most countries  No standardised RSI reporting in most countries Road Safety Inspection within the 6FP Project RIPCORD-ISEREST

10. Common understanding on RSI  Preventive tool  Independent of the occurred number of accidents  Regular inspection  Covering the whole existing road network  Carried out by trained traffic expert team Road Safety Inspection within the 6FP Project RIPCORD-ISEREST

11. Current approach in Austria  Selection of inspection sites depending on the actual number of occurred accidents, priority given to sections with an accident rate above average Road Safety Inspection in Austria Is it RSI at all or another road infrastructure safety management tool?

12. Road Safety Inspection Thomas Fessl KfV – Road Safety Economics www.kfv.at www.ripcord-iserest.com Tel.: +43-(0)577077-1210 thomas.fessl@kfv.at