Citation

Smith G, Daly P, Mcinerney R. Proc. Australas. Road Safety Res. Policing Educ. Conf. 2006; 10.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, copyright holder varies, Publisher Monash University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) has two standard protocols: risk mapping, and star ratings using a Road Protection Score (RPS). In 2004 and 2005, AusRAP published colour coded risk maps which draw on traffic flow and crash data to show the relative road safety performance of the AusLink National Network. This paper focuses on the second AusRAP protocol, star ratings using the RPS. The RPS is an innovative approach to assessing the inherent safety of a road. It involves a drive through inspection in specially equipped vehicles that capture video images of the roads. From this information, inspectors assess each road and assign star ratings based on major safety features and hazards. The star ratings, which have been developed by the Australian automobile clubs in partnership with the ARRB group, draw extensively on the research underpinning ARRB's Road Safety Risk Manager. This paper describes the star rating methodology in some detail and presents the selected results of the first major application of the methodology to the open highway lengths of the AusLink national network.