Road Safety
We identify the factors contributing to risk for all road users through detailed analysis and develop targeted mitigating measures, remedial treatment programs and road safety strategies that align with safe system principles to reduce crash risk for intersections, roads, routes and networks.
We work with our clients to deliver targeted, practical Safe System outcomes that measurably reduce crash risk across intersections, roads, routes and networks. Our process identifies risk factors through detailed analysis and develops focused mitigation measures, remedial treatment programs and evidence based strategies aligned with Safe System principles.
RSDH applies first principles thinking, combining applied engineering expertise with nationally recognised research. Our work aligns with Australian Standards and Austroads Guides and is informed by direct involvement in Austroads research and Standards Australia committees.
We take a multidisciplinary approach, integrating road design, asset management, maintenance and human factors to deliver implementable solutions tailored to each network. Every assessment considers all road users, including heavy vehicles, vulnerable users and emerging technologies such as ADAS, to achieve practical and defensible safety outcomes.
Road Safety Audit
Independent and accredited road safety audits for all project stages, from feasibility and concept design through to pre opening and existing road audits.
Our audits align with Austroads and state authority guidelines, integrating crash data analysis, road design principles, and human factor considerations to identify safety deficiencies and targeted, cost effective mitigation measures.
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We specialise in thematic:
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motorcycle road safety audits
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heavy vehicle road safety audits, and
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vulnerable road use road safety audits.
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RSAs identify potential safety risks for all road users across all stages of a road's life cycle, from planning and design to operation:
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Feasibility / Concept Stage Road Safety Audits
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Preliminary Design Stage Road Safety Audits
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Detailed Design Stage Road Safety Audits
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Pre-Opening Stage Road Safety Audits
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Immediate Post-Opening (Post-Completion) Road Safety Audits
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Existing Road, Road Safety Audits
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Thematic Road Safety Audits(e.g. pedestrian-focused, motorcycle-focused, cyclist-focused).
By integrating Safe System principles, RSAs help clients deliver safer infrastructure, reduce costly remedial works, and demonstrate their duty of care.
Whether you're managing new developments or existing roads, RSAs are a critical tool to improve safety outcomes and project performance.
Crash Site Investigation
An objective investigation of a crash site to review the road design, road condition and road environment factors to determine if or how these may have contributed to a crash. Advanced techniques, including consideration of surface condition, time of day, weather conditions, location, and link crash rates, as well as compliance with Australian Standard requirements, can also be adopted.
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For road managers, crash site investigations are a proven approach to convert a serious incident into targeted crash prevention action at the site and other sites on the network that exhibit similar characteristics. A thorough investigation looks beyond the driver narrative to identify system contributors and recurring patterns, allowing you to prioritise treatments that actually reduce future risk, such as line marking upgrades, skid resistance restoration, hazard removal, delineation, speed environment alignment, and maintenance triggers. This system focused approach supports trend identification and the development of practical mitigation strategies that can be rolled into programs and budgets, improving safety outcomes and strengthening duty of care through documented, proactive risk control.
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Crash site investigations also provide an independent, objective report that can provide expert witness reports for legal proceedings.
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Safe System Assessment
A Safe System Assessment is a structured, evidence based review of a road, route, corridor or network to identify where the infrastructure is not forgiving of common human error and to prioritise treatments that reduce the likelihood of fatal and serious injury.
The assessment applies recognised Safe System frameworks to calculate a quantifiable risk score (by crash type and road user group) based on factors such as operating speed, conflict complexity, roadside hazard exposure, intersection form, access density, and provision for vulnerable road users.
This score gives road managers a defensible baseline to compare sites, set treatment priorities, and then test remedial options by estimating how each option changes the risk score, allowing you to evaluate alternatives, target investment to the highest harm reduction opportunities, and demonstrate measurable improvement over time.
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Crash Data Analysis
Crash data analysis allows historical data to identify where, how, and why people are being harmed, providing insights into crash risk at intersections, road sections, links, routes, or networks. These insights allow for the identififactiona nd prioritisation of remedial measures through safety programs, capital works planning or asset management and road maintenance activities.
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We undertake a thorough assessment that goes beyond simple crash counts by applying robust metrics to reveal statistically meaningful trends, recurring contributing factors, and the crash types and road user groups driving fatal and serious injury risk.
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Our models combine crash records with road geometry and layout, traffic volume and heavy vehicle mix, operating speeds, and asset and surface condition, then align the findings with predictive risk and infrastructure risk indicators. The result is a defensible evidence base that pinpoints high risk locations and systemic issues, supports targeted, cost effective treatment selection, and strengthens prioritisation for Network Safety Plans and Remedial Safety Programs informed by AusRAP, iRAP, ANRAM, or Infrastructure Risk Rating (IRR) data.
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Network Safety Assessment (iRAP / AusRAP / ANRAM / IRR)
RSDH works with road managers to turn iRAP, AusRAP, ANRAM, and Infrastructure Risk Rating (IRR) outputs into practical, prioritised safety programs that deliver measurable reductions in fatal and serious injury risk. We help you understand what network safety performance means in practice, how each assessment approach differs, and how to use the data across planning, maintenance, investment, and performance reporting so it directly supports decision making rather than sitting in a report.
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We integrate your network risk datasets with crash history, road geometry and layout, traffic volumes and heavy vehicle mix, operating speeds, and asset and surface condition to pinpoint high risk locations, high risk crash types, and systemic issues. The outcome is a defensible evidence base and a clear pathway from risk identification to treatment selection, packaging targeted and cost effective remedial works into Network Safety Plans and Remedial Safety Programs that support funding submissions, transparent prioritisation, and ongoing monitoring of safety performance.
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Star Rating for Designs
Star Rating for Designs is a proactive road safety tool that evaluates how well a proposed road design protects users from death and serious injury.
Using internationally recognised iRAP (International Road Assessment Programme) methodology, the design is assessed against key risk factors such as road layout, intersection treatments, roadside hazards, and pedestrian and cyclist facilities. The design is evaluated by assigning a star rating from 1 (least safe) to 5 (safest).
By quantifying safety performance before construction begins, Star Rating for Designs enables planners and designers to compare options, justify safety upgrades, and deliver infrastructure that meets Safe System objectives. It is a powerful way to embed safety into road projects from the earliest stages.
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Speed Management
Effective speed management extends well beyond changing posted speed limits. RSDH works with road managers to understand why high operating speeds are occurring and to select the mix of measures that will actually shift driver behaviour and reduce fatal and serious injury risk. We combine crash data, predictive crash risk datasets, and emerging evidence sources such as vehicle telematics and heavy vehicle on board management data to pinpoint where speed is a primary harm contributor, when and why speeding occurs, and which road user groups are most exposed.
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We then develop an implementation focused program that aligns the operating speed with the level of protection provided by the road environment and the road user mix. This includes prioritised options across low cost engineering (for example, self explaining road treatments, delineation, entry treatments, side friction and intersection speed control), education and communications, and enforcement support, with clear monitoring measures so you can demonstrate measurable improvement over time.
School Zone Safety
RSDH works with road managers and schools to identify and reduce safety risk within school zones and across the surrounding access routes where children, parents, buses, cyclists, and general traffic interact. We undertake a thorough assessment that maps how people actually move through the area and uses evidence sources such as crash and incident history, traffic and pedestrian volumes, operating speeds, and site observations to identify high risk movements, crossing demand, and conflict points at peak times.
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We then quantify pedestrian and traffic interaction risk to prioritise treatments and build a clear, measurable program of improvements. This includes targeted upgrades to layout and access management, crossing provision and pedestrian priority, school zone signage and delineation, and speed management measures that align operating speeds with child safety. The outcome is a defensible treatment plan that supports funding and implementation, and provides baseline metrics to demonstrate reductions in crash likelihood and severity over time.
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