Improving road safety in developing countries using NetRisk: a road network risk management approach

The aim of the NetRisk methodology is to provide road authorities with a simple yet comprehensive method to identify road safety issues across their networks, and ultimately develop a prioritised works program to address the concerns identified, within individual budgeting periods. In addition the process also aims to help address and document the legal obligations and responsibilities of the road owner. The NetRisk road network safety assessment process can be applied to any road environment in the world. The process that has been developed includes: (1) A network level risk assessment (road network safety assessment) is completed to focus attention on high risk sections of road where the risk of crashes and the associated treatment of that risk is expected to provide the greatest return; (2) The high risk sections are then investigated in greater detail to locate specific hazards and possible treatment options. Specific software modules include an engineering toolkit and a road safety audit toolkit, provided as expert decision making tools to assist in the selection and costing of engineering treatments; and (3) The individual treatments are then analysed using the ARRB Road Safety Risk Manager to assess all potential treatments to ensure the highest safety value for money projects are completed first. This will help ensure road authorities obtain the greatest reduction in road trauma from the total available funding.