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Cover of National Harmonisation of Road Safety Audit Practice: Benefit-Cost Analysis
National Harmonisation of Road Safety Audit Practice: Benefit-Cost Analysis
  • Publication no: AP-R747-26
  • ISBN: 978-1-923617-05-6
  • Published: 18 March 2026

The purpose of the study was to carry out an economic evaluation of Austroads’ proposal for national harmonisation of road safety audit practices.

The study used a breakeven analysis to estimate the required increase in benefits from road safety auditing to at least equal the costs of the Austroads proposal.

The study reviewed literature and carried out surveys with road safety auditors and state and local government road agency officers to establish the scope for improvement in current road safety audit practice.

The study found that a 1% to 1.5% increase in benefits (depending on discount rate) attributable to road safety auditing would cover the costs of the proposed national harmonised road safety audit practice. This equates to an annual reduction of 0.07 fatal crashes, or 1.07 hospitalisation crashes or 5.36 medical treatment crashes.

National Registration Framework for Road Safety Auditors

Austroads members have agreed to implement a National Registration Framework for Road Safety Auditors (NRFRSA). The NRFRSA will be a framework for the registration of trainee auditors, road safety auditors and senior road safety auditors. Learn more about the Framework.

  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Purpose
    • 1.2 Benefits of road safety audit harmonisation
    • 1.3 Scope
    • 1.4 Limitations
    • 1.5 Extension of the analysis
    • 1.6 Terminology
    • 1.7 Methodology
      • 1.7.1 Definitions
      • 1.7.2 Approach to the analysis
    • 1.8 Report structure
  • 2. Methodology
    • 2.1 Approach
    • 2.2 Elements of the methodology
      • 2.2.1 Crash costs
      • 2.2.2 Agency and industry costs
      • 2.2.3 Other methodological issues
  • 3. The National Harmonisation of Road Safety Audit Practices Proposal
  • 4. Road Safety Auditing Activity in Australia
    • 4.1 Numbers of auditors and audit businesses
      • 4.1.1 Registered auditors
      • 4.1.2 How much auditing do auditors do?
      • 4.1.3 Businesses providing RSA services
    • 4.2 Number of approved training providers
    • 4.3 Cross-border operation
    • 4.4 Industry value
  • 5. Philosophy Behind Road Safety Auditing
    • 5.1 Introduction
    • 5.2 History of Road Safety Auditing
      • 5.2.1 Introduction of RSA in Australia
    • 5.3 Core philosophy of Road Safety Auditing
      • 5.3.1 Prevention over reaction
      • 5.3.2 Proactive risk management
      • 5.3.3 Safe System approach
    • 5.4 Objectives of Road Safety Auditing
      • 5.4.1 Minimise crash risk
      • 5.4.2 Enhance safety awareness
      • 5.4.3 Consider all road users
      • 5.4.4 Benefits of Road Safety Auditing
      • 5.4.5 Improved road design
    • 5.5 Implementation of Road Safety Audits
      • 5.5.1 Stages of RSA
      • 5.5.2 Independent review
    • 5.6 Challenges and criticisms
      • 5.6.1 Independence versus involvement
      • 5.6.2 Implementation and follow-up
      • 5.6.3 Resource intensity
    • 5.7 Summary
  • 6. Requirements of Road Safety Auditors
    • 6.1 Introduction
    • 6.2 Qualifications and experience
    • 6.3 Training requirements
    • 6.4 Registration
    • 6.5 Team composition and roles
    • 6.6 Independence and objectivity
    • 6.7 Safe System knowledge
    • 6.8 Procedural requirements
      • 6.8.1 Audit stages
      • 6.8.2 Reporting standards
    • 6.9 Professional conduct and ethics
    • 6.10 Quality management
  • 7. Influence of Road Safety Auditing on Road Management Decisions
    • 7.1 Influencing road management decisions
      • 7.1.1 Proactive identification of safety issues
      • 7.1.2 Informing design changes
      • 7.1.3 Prioritising safety improvements
      • 7.1.4 Updating policies and standards
      • 7.1.5 Cost-effective interventions
      • 7.1.6 Crash reduction
      • 7.1.7 Incorporating Safe System principles
      • 7.1.8 Informing road safety strategies
      • 7.1.9 Demonstrating duty of care
      • 7.1.10 Improving stakeholder engagement
    • 7.2 Integration of RSAs into road management decisions
      • 7.2.1 Early project stages
      • 7.2.2 Construction and post-construction stages
    • 7.3 Benefits of integrating RSAs into decision-making processes
      • 7.3.1 Reduced crash risk
      • 7.3.2 Cost savings
      • 7.3.3 Enhanced project delivery
    • 7.4 Challenges and barriers to effective integration
      • 7.4.1 Variability in practices
      • 7.4.2 Resource constraints
      • 7.4.3 Resistance to change
    • 7.5 Recommendations for enhancing RSA integration
      • 7.5.1 Standardisation
      • 7.5.2 Training and capacity building
      • 7.5.3 Continuous improvement and feedback loops
    • 7.6 Summary
  • 8. Evidence that Road Safety Audits Reduce Crash Risk
    • 8.1 Introduction
    • 8.2 Methodology for evaluating RSA effectiveness
    • 8.3 Quantitative evidence of RSA effectiveness
      • 8.3.1 ‘With and without’ road safety audit studies
      • 8.3.2 Intervention-focussed studies
    • 8.4 Safety improvements beyond crash reduction
      • 8.4.1 Proactive risk identification
      • 8.4.2 Cost-effectiveness of early intervention
      • 8.4.3 Improvements in road design practices
    • 8.5 Qualitative benefits of RSAs
    • 8.6 Implications
    • 8.7 Summary
  • 9. Evidence of Ineffectiveness or Unsafe Outcomes of Road Safety Audits
    • 9.1 Literature review
    • 9.2 Results of auditor and agency surveys (2024)
      • 9.2.1 Road safety auditor survey
      • 9.2.2 Agency survey
    • 9.3 Implications
  • 10. Estimation of Agency and Industry Costs
    • 10.1 Approach
    • 10.2 State and territory road agency costs
    • 10.3 Austroads
    • 10.4 Industry costs
      • 10.4.1 Registration of road safety auditors
      • 10.4.2 Assumptions
      • 10.4.3 Estimated training costs
    • 10.5 Summary of agency, Austroads and industry costs
    • 10.6 Industry impacts
  • 11. Breakeven Analysis
    • 11.1 Results of the breakeven analysis
    • 11.2 Sensitivity tests
      • 11.2.1 Value of auditors’ time
      • 11.2.2 Road safety engineering training
      • 11.2.3 More or fewer registered road safety auditors than estimated
  • References
Related publications
Road Safety Audit National Training Syllabus
AP-C115-26
Webinar: National Harmonisation of Road Safety Audit Practices
WEG-SAG6509-24
View all related publications
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