WASHINGTON, D.C. — A decade ago, only a few states had ever heard of a Road Safety Audit (RSA) and now every state has some experience with the RSA process. A National Highway Institute webinar — May 17, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time — will showcase how states have developed RSA programs with a strong focus on implementation.

An RSA is a "formal safety performance evaluation of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team." Currently, 16 states have established a formal RSA Program and 34 states have incorporated RSAs in their Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).

The RSA process is important, but implementation of the RSA recommendations is critical to improve safety. For example, in Arizona, guardrail, signing and pavement markings, traffic signals and drainage improvements were recommended through an RSA. After these improvements were made, there was a 54-percent reduction in total crashes. In New Jersey, an RSA recommended traffic signal and pedestrian signal improvements that resulted in a 26-percent reduction in total crashes.

In the webinar, Peter Hsu with District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation will provide information on an RSA database created to track recommendations. William Haynes of Montgomery County Department of Transportation will discuss implementing pedestrian improvements identified in RSAs. Bonnie Polin of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will share how their RSA Program is linked to the HSIP.

Register for the free webinar at www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webconfid=24137.