Course Description
"Road Safety Audits and Inspections: Building Safer Infrastructure" is an innovative course offered by IDBx that delves into the critical realm of road safety, with a particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. This introductory-level engineering course addresses the pressing need for safer road infrastructure in a rapidly urbanizing world. With 18% of road crashes potentially linked to infrastructure quality, this course equips learners with the knowledge and tools to revolutionize road design practices and create more inclusive, safer roads for all users.
What Students Will Learn
- Identify and apply best practices and methodologies in road safety audits and inspections
- Understand the unique safety needs of non-motorized transport users
- Recognize personal vulnerabilities as both motorized and non-motorized transport users
- Compare and analyze successful versus unsuccessful practices in integrating non-motorized transportation modes safely
- Explore the concept of Vision Zero and 5-star Roads for all users
- Learn about the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) methodology
- Understand the importance of urban road design in the context of the Safe System Approach
Prerequisites
There are no specific prerequisites for this course. It is designed as an introductory-level course, making it accessible to a wide range of learners interested in road safety and infrastructure development.
Course Coverage
- Introduction to basic road design concepts
- Importance and process of road safety audits and inspections
- The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) methodology
- Vision Zero and 5-star Roads for all users
- Case studies and success stories from the Caribbean
- Urban road design experiences and best practices
- The Safe System Approach in the context of infrastructure
- Integration of non-motorized transport modes in road design
Target Audience
This course is ideal for:
- Road engineers and designers
- Public officers involved in transportation and urban planning
- Urban planners and city developers
- Safety professionals and consultants
- Students in engineering, urban planning, or related fields
- Anyone interested in improving road safety and infrastructure in their community or country
Real-World Applications
The skills acquired in this course have immediate real-world applications. Learners will be able to:
- Conduct road safety audits and inspections in their local areas
- Propose and implement safer road designs in urban and rural settings
- Advocate for more inclusive road infrastructure that considers all users
- Contribute to reducing road accidents and saving lives through improved infrastructure
- Apply the Safe System Approach to existing and new road projects
- Assess the quality of road networks from a safety standpoint
- Participate in or lead urban road design projects with a focus on safety
- Contribute to policy-making and infrastructure investment decisions related to road safety
Syllabus
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Introductory Module: A Safer Road Infrastructure
- Introduction to basic road design concepts
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Module 1: Road Safety Audits and Inspections
- Importance of road safety audits and inspections
- Process of conducting audits and inspections
- Introduction to the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP)
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Module 2: The Infrastructure in the context of the Safe System Approach
- Introduction to Vision Zero and 5-star Roads for all users
- Success stories from the Caribbean
- Experiences in urban road design
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Conclusions
- Summary of main ideas
- Final evaluation
This comprehensive course offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into road safety audits, inspections, and design practices. By enrolling, you'll be at the forefront of creating safer, more inclusive roads that can save countless lives and improve mobility for all users in Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond.
