Independent mobility expertise for safe infrastructure

Benefits of a road safety audit

A road safety audit is more than a checklist. It strengthens the entire project process. The goal is more efficient project delivery and infrastructure that performs better, is safer and remains future‑proof.

• Early risk detection prevents costly rework.
• Objective advice supports permitting authorities and stakeholders.
• Improved road safety aligns with Flemish policy objectives.
• A stronger dossier increases the success rate for tenders and permits.

Making traffic‑safety risks visible at an early stage

The days when infrastructure design focused solely on capacity and traffic flow are behind us. Today, designers must safely accommodate a growing and diverse mix of road users. More cycling leads to new conflict situations, shared mobility introduces greater variation in speed and behaviour, and infrastructure is becoming more complex to interpret. On top of that comes regulation:

• for motorways, TEN‑T roads, Flemish main roads and EU‑funded projects, an audit is mandatory;
• more and more clients involve a road safety auditor in the earliest design phase.

The earlier risks become visible, the more efficiently and cost‑effectively they can be resolved. An audit helps designers manage complex situations and gives clients an objective view of potential bottlenecks — before they translate into on‑site problems.

Analysis and improvements for every infrastructure design

Every road safety audit starts from the basics: the function of the road, the type of infrastructure and the relationship between design and use. We verify whether all road users — from pedestrians to public transport — are correctly and safely accounted for. Our auditors work fully independently and strictly follow the applicable guidelines. We assess the design separately from existing choices or team agreements: traffic safety is not a negotiable element. Depending on the project phase, the audit includes:

• a site visit;
• conflict analyses and sightline checks;
• cycling safety checks;
• a systematic risk assessment.

The result is a clear, well‑structured report with concise problem descriptions and an assessment of the potential impact. Thanks to the combination of auditor expertise and Sweco’s broad mobility and infrastructure knowledge, we can not only identify risks but also link them to feasible improvements.

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