Guide to Road Safety Part 9: Roadside Hazard Management

Run-off-road (ROR) crashes are a major type of road crash that results in death and serious injury. There are numerous reasons as to why vehicles leave the roadway and encroach onto the roadside environment. These reasons include lack of driver concentration or inattention, driver fatigue, driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, excessive speed, poor visibility, inadequate visual cues of the road path, poor road condition and vehicle failure (e.g. brake failure, worn tyres, etc.). To reduce the incidence of ROR crashes and to support the safe road system concept and goals, the need to take a strategic approach to treating and managing roadside hazards, so as to minimise their potential to cause injury or death, is essential. The purpose of this guide is to assist road safety practitioners to minimise the risk of ROR crashes. The key first step in roadside hazard management is to provide a road environment that reduces the potential for road users to lose control of their vehicle and run off the road. Should this occur it is then essential that a roadside environment be provided that is free of hazards or is forgiving. A restructured edition of Guide to Road Safety was published in July 20201. The material from this Part was incorporated into Guide to Road Safety Part 2: Safe Roads.