Road Safety Auditor (RSA) Training

The Road Safety Auditor (RSA) course is a practical training program designed to develop professional skills in traffic risk assessment and road safety enhancement across all project stages: planning, design, implementation, and post-operation.
The course is based on Safe System principles and combines theoretical foundations with practical tools to generate high-quality, actionable audit reports.

Course Duration
Over 35 hours of intensive training
10 applied sessions

Course Title: Road Safety Auditor (RSA) Training Duration: Over 35 training hours — 10 intensive applied sessions

Target Audience

• Road Safety Engineer
• Traffic Engineer
• Transportation Planner
• Highway Design Engineer
• Project Supervision Engineer
• Road Safety Technician or Inspector
• Road Project Manager
• Traffic Safety Department Manager
• Operations and Maintenance Manager

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the Road Safety Auditor (RSA) course participants will be able to:

• Apply Safe System principles to urban and highway road projects.
• Conduct safety audits at pre-design, detailed design, pre-opening, and post-operation stages.
• Use data collection and analysis tools including blackspot identification, crash rates, and hazard mapping.
• Evaluate the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, public transport users, and people with disabilities.
• Formulate practical recommendations and estimate implementation priorities, costs, and expected impact.
• Prepare professional RSA audit reports that meet regulatory and legal requirements.

Course Modules & Detailed Content

1) Safe System Principles

• Risk control hierarchy and the concept of human error tolerance
• Safe speed and matching kinetic energy to human body tolerance
• Elements of safe roads, safe vehicles, safe road users, and post-crash response

2) Road Safety Audit Stages

• Concept/Feasibility RSA (Pre-design)
• Preliminary and Detailed Design Audit
• Pre-opening Audit
• Post-opening Audit
• Scope of work, audit team, independence, and professional ethics

3) Analysis & Assessment Tools

• Data sources: crashes, speeds, traffic volumes, conflicts, field observations
• Identifying conflict points and intersection analysis
• Hotspot identification techniques: cut-off, Empirical Bayes, and performance indicators
• Using checklists and reference templates

4) Pedestrian, Cyclist & Vulnerable Road User Safety

• Crossing design, trip lengths, sightlines, pedestrian crossing time
• Cycle lanes, roadside protections, low-speed zones
• Universal access for people with disabilities, sidewalk design, ramp gradients
• School zones, hospital precincts, and public transport stops

5) Reporting & Recommendations

• RSA report structure: executive summary, methodology, findings, risk matrix, recommendations
• Estimating expected safety impact and prioritizing interventions
• Post-Audit Review and closure mechanisms

6) Legal Responsibilities & Governance

• Limits of the auditor’s liability and responsibilities of the owner and consultant
• Proper documentation of assumptions and observations, conflict management, stakeholder communication
• Record-keeping policies, transparency, and approval requirements

Suggested 10-Session Training Plan

1. Introduction to RSA and Safe System principles
2. RSA stages, audit scopes, and team formation
3. Crash data, blackspots, and key performance indicators
4. Analysis of crash locations, intersections, and conflict points
5. Pedestrian, cyclist, and vulnerable user safety
6. Speed management, traffic calming, and roadside hazards
7. Field observations and case studies
8. Preparing practical recommendations, prioritization, and cost estimation
9. Writing the RSA report and presenting to stakeholders
10. Final project: complete RSA report for a selected site

Projects & Practical Applications

• Case study of an urban street and a major intersection
• Review of a highway design including entry/exit ramps
• Pre-opening RSA for an infrastructure project
• Risk matrix with actionable recommendations and a timeline

Provided Tools & Templates

• RSA checklists for urban and highway roads
• Editable professional RSA report template
• Risk matrix and prioritization templates
• Illustrated guide for site visit procedures and documentation

Assessment & Certification

• Short quizzes after each module
• Final audit project with a brief presentation
• Certificate of Completion for the Road Safety Auditor (RSA) course upon meeting requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a safety audit and a design review?
An audit focuses on risks, user behavior, and operational safety, while a design review focuses on technical compliance with specifications.

Does an auditor need special authority?
Independence from the design/construction team is required, along with appropriate experience and certified training in RSA methodology.

Is the audit carried out before or after construction?
Audits are carried out at all stages: pre-design, during design, pre-opening, and post-operation to ensure risks are identified and addressed early.

Institutional Benefits

• Reduced frequency and severity of crashes
• Improved user experience and reduced disruption
• Clearer investment priorities for low-cost, high-impact interventions
• Stronger legal documentation and reduced operational risk

Trainer: Al-Hadi Mohamed

Trainer Profile:

• • PhD researcher in Business Administration and a civil engineer specialized in infrastructure and road safety projects.
  • Over 16 years of experience in road design, construction, and maintenance, with a special focus on safety audits and crash investigations.
  • Current position: Senior Safety Engineer at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics – Eastern Region, participating in an RSA project executed by Euro Group Engineering Consultancy.

• Professional Accreditations:

• • Road Safety Professional (RSP1-SA) – accredited by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
  • Lead Auditor for Road Safety Audits – accredited by the International Road Federation (IRF).
  • RSA Auditor – accredited by multiple Australian states.
  • Certified Defensive Driving trainer and instructor.
  • NEBOSH certificate from the UK Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
  • Project management certifications: PMP – P3O – PMO-CP.

• Key Contributions:

• Participated in one of the largest global road assessment projects under iRAP in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the Eastern Province Municipality.
• Conducted over 200 investigations into fatal road crashes, including causal analysis and technical recommendations.
• Trained hundreds of engineers and specialists through advanced courses such as RSE – RSP – DDS – TMP – ITSS – RSC.