Road infrastructure safety management as a part of the road traffic safety protective system

Abstract

Road infrastructure has been identified as one of the pillars of traffic safety policies that should significantly contribute to the reduction of road traffic injuries. Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management. The Directive prescribes the implementation of procedures in the field of road infrastructure safety improvement, which have the highest degree of effectiveness, and which are mandatory for the trans-European road network, and are recommended for use on other roads. Apart from the prescribed, there is a possibility of applying other procedures. The following procedures are in use: RIA (Road Safety Impact Assessment); RSA (Road Safety Audit); EuroRAP (Europe Road Assessment Program) i iRAP (International Road Assessment Program); RSI (Road Safety Inspection) (as a proactive measures); and BSM (Black Spot Management); IDSA (In Depth Study of Accident); and NSM (Network Safety Management) (as a reactive measure). The first two procedures (RIA and RSA) are applied in the design phase of the roads, before construction, as well as in the case of reconstruction of roads that are already in operation while others (ERAP and iRAP; RSI; BSM; IDS and NSM) are applied on the existing roads in exploitation. The amending of Directive 2008/96/EC is underway, and it is based on the proposed road safety framework that follows safe system approach, i.e. it assumes that human beings can and will continue to make mistakes and that it is up to all actors to ensure that road accidents do not lead to serious or fatal injuries (shared responsibility). The paper presents the history and basic characteristics of certain procedures, as well as the field of their application.