ENG09036 2020 Principles of Road Safety Engineering and Audit

General Details

Full Title
Principles of Road Safety Engineering and Audit
Transcript Title
Principles of Road Safety Engi
Code
ENG09036
Attendance
N/A %
Subject Area
ENG - Engineering
Department
CENG - Civil Eng. and Construction
Level
09 - NFQ Level 9
Credit
10 - 10 Credits
Duration
Semester
Fee
Start Term
2020 - Full Academic Year 2020-21
End Term
9999 - The End of Time
Author(s)
Bill O'Kelly-Lynch, Trevor McSharry, Brian McCann
Programme Membership
SG_ERSAF_S09 202000 Certificate in Road Safety Audit and Engineering
Description

This module provides the learner with advanced and specified learning and knowledge relating to road safety engineering and collision analysis so that collision data collection and statistical analysis of collisions can inform the learner of the procedures required to assess the causes of accidents and determine potential engineering solutions. Traffic conflicts and management areas are also explored. The module addresses road scheme design and speed management for urban and rural roads with an emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users and non-motorised users. 

This module also provides the learner with advanced learning and knowledge relating to the road safety audit process for urban and rural road schemes in Ireland. The requirements and procedures for the auditing of schemes at various stages from route selection to operation is a key focus of the module. 

A review is undertaken of the TII standards for Road Safety Audit, and other TII standards based on the requirements of the Road Infrastructure Safety Management EU Directive, including Road Safety Impact Assessments. The implications for practical auditing of the safety of routes, designs, construction and operation are investigated by means of theory lectures and individual assignments. The communication of safety problems and potential solutions between the audit team and design team at each of the specified stages are also explored.

 

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;

1.

Critique and interpret the roles and responsibilities of organisations in Ireland relating to road safety and the requirements and implications of the implementation of the EU Road Infrastructure Safety Management Directive 2008/96/EC

2.

Investigate the causes of road collisions and evaluate the efficacy of relevant data collection methodologies and data analysis techniques.

3.

Critique current road safety engineering processes, conflicts, remedial options, accident investigation, and economic analysis methodologies.

4.

Appreciate the requirements for rural and urban road network design, speed management, and the specification of facilities for the general safety and protection of vulnerable and non-motorised users.

5.

Appraise the roles and responsibilities associated with current Irish road safety and quality auditing processes for both audit and design teams.

6.

Propose potential solutions based on risk analysis and hazard identification for both rural and urban road schemes at specified stages of road planning, design, construction and operation.

7.

Communicate effectively and critically the outcomes of both design and construction stage audits to the design team and other representatives of the employer and contractor where appropriate, and evaluate designer responses based on best practice technical and operational knowledge.

8.

Report critically on the findings of road safety and urban road quality audits at the specified stages using acquired knowledge and expertise pertaining to selected scheme case studies..

Teaching and Learning Strategies

The teaching and learning strategy is based on the provision of live and recorded on-line lectures, Moodle (VLE) resources, and independent learning that incorporates elements of enquiry and project-based learning for individual practical and project work and reporting of findings.

Module Assessment Strategies

The assessment incorporates a blend of final written examination and practical assignments. The learner must achieve a grade of 40% or higher in order to achieve a pass in this module.

Repeat Assessments

The learner must undertake repeat final written examination and/or continuous assessment project work depending on the particular failed element(s) to achieve an overall pass grade.

Module Dependencies

Co-requisites
ENG09038 202000 Road Safety Projects

Indicative Syllabus

Lecture (Theory):

  1. Introduction to Road Safety Engineering: Introduction, context and background. Roles and responsibilities. EU RISM Directive.  Road User Types and Attributes. Trends and developments in Ireland & EU.
  2. Data sources and data recording systems, Mapping and exposure of data. Identification of high collision locations (HCL). Definition of safety problem. 
  3. Collision causation. Comparison of  design standards and collision records to define ‘safety problems'. Conflict studies.
  4. Safety engineering processes. Site and route solutions and area-wide studies.
  5. Road safety engineering statistical analysis: Descriptive statistics and ​​​​​​statistical evaluation. Road Safety Models. 
  6. Evaluation of safety improvement options. Economic assessment and collision savings. First Year Rate of Return (FYRR).
  7. Collision prevention engineering measures. Safe systems approaches. Forgiving Roadsides. Behaviour, enforcement & education.
  8. Designing for VRU. Designing in urban areas. Other types of road audit, including urban road and street quality audits.
  9. TII Road Safety Auditing (RSA) Standards and Guidelines: Process: Roles and Responsibilities. Audit Team Qualifications.
  10. Design Stage Audits: RSA Stages 1 & 2.  Process, examples, differences between Stages 1 & 2.
  11. RSA Problem Location Identification and Mapping. Designer Responses to RSA Report Findings.
  12. Construction Stage Audits: RSA Stages 3 & 4. RSA Stage F.
  13. Road Safety Inspection. Road Safety Impact Assessment.
  14. TII Design Standards.Traffic Management Guidelines. Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS). Vulnerable Road Users (VRU).
  15. Speed management guidelines and procedures.

Practical (Assignments): 

Road Safety Engineering:

  1. Stick Diagram Exercise.
  2. Conflict Study.
  3. Behaviour, Enforcement & Education Study.
  4. Road Safety Engineering Measures, Prioritisation & Evaluation of Options (FYRR) Assignment.

Road Safety Auditing:

  1. Stage 2 RSA Review.
  2. Stage 2 RSA Report on recommendations appropriate to Design Stage.
  3. Stage F RSA or Collision Modification Factor (CMF) Study.

Coursework & Assessment Breakdown

Coursework & Continuous Assessment
40 %
End of Semester / Year Formal Exam
60 %

Coursework Assessment

Title Type Form Percent Week Learning Outcomes Assessed
1 Stick Diagram Exercise. Practical Practical Evaluation 5 % Week 2 2
2 Conflict Study Practical Practical Evaluation 5 % Week 3 2,3
3 Behaviour, Enforcement & Education Study Project Written Report/Essay 5 % Week 5 3,4
4 Road Safety Measures, Prioritisation & Evaluation of Options (FYRR) Project Assignment 10 % Week 4 3,4,6
5 RSA Stage 2 Review Project Written Report/Essay 5 % Week 7 5,6,8
6 Stage 2 RSA Report on Design Stage recommendations Project Written Report/Essay 5 % Week 8 6,7,8
7 Stage F or Collision Modification Factor (CMF) Study Project Written Report/Essay 5 % Week 10 3,6,7,8

End of Semester / Year Assessment

Title Type Form Percent Week Learning Outcomes Assessed
1 Final Written Exam Final Exam Closed Book Exam 60 % End of Semester 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
             
             

Online Learning Mode Workload


Type Location Description Hours Frequency Avg Workload
Lecture Online Online Live and Recorded Lecture 2 Weekly 2.00
Directed Learning Online Moodle Resources and Tutorials 2 Weekly 2.00
Independent Learning Not Specified Self-directed and Group-based Learning 10 Weekly 10.00
Total Online Learning Average Weekly Learner Contact Time 4.00 Hours

Required & Recommended Book List

Required Reading
2015 Practical Road Safety Auditing ICE Publishing https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/isbn/9780727760166

Required Reading
2008-01-01 Practical Road Safety Auditing Thomas Telford Services Limited
ISBN 0727735152 ISBN-13 9780727735157

This book explains the systematic process for checking the safety of new road schemes. Since publishing the first edition in 2000 there have been many changes in the area of road safety auditing, such as the introduction of the new Road Safety Audit Standard produced by the Highways Agency which has resulted in changes to the way Road Safety Audits are carried out. Amongst other things this book addresses the increase in the number of Home Zones and Safer Routes to School projects, the concepts of shared space and self-explaining roads, the idea of passive safety, the new standard on road restraints published by the Highways Agency and the issues raised by the introduction of the Manual for Streets - including the new challenges for Road Safety Auditors.

Required Reading
2018-09-03 Transport Planning and Traffic Safety CRC Press
ISBN 9781315351278 ISBN-13 1315351277

In recognition of the importance of road safety as a major health issue, the World Health Organization has declared 2011-2021 the Decade of Safety Action. Several countries in Europe, North America, and Asia have been successful in reducing fatalities and injuries due to road traffic crashes. However, many low-income countries continue to experience high rates of traffic fatalities and injuries. Transport Planning and Traffic Safety: Making Cities, Roads, and Vehicles Safer offers a source book for road safety training courses as well as an introductory textbook for graduate-level courses on road safety taught in engineering institutes. It brings together the international experiences and lessons learned from countries which have been successful in reducing traffic crashes and their applicability in low-income countries. The content is based on lectures delivered during an international course on transportation planning and traffic safety, sponsored annually by the Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP) at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. The book is interdisciplinary and aimed at professionalstraffic and road engineers, vehicle designers, law enforcers, and transport planners. The authors examine trends in performance of OECD countries and highlight the public health and systems approach of traffic safety with the vulnerable road user in focus. Topics include land use (transportation planning, mobility, and safety), safety education and legislation, accident analysis, road safety research, human tolerance to injury, vehicle design, safety in construction zones, safety in urban areas, traffic calming, public transportation, safety laws and policies, and pre-hospital care of the injured.

Module Resources

URL Resources

TII Publications  www.tiipublications.ie

Traffic Signs Manual  www.trafficsigns.ie

www.speedlimits.ie

 

Other Resources

Dedicated Moodle Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) webpage for the module.