How Much Does a Road Safety Audit Cost?

What affects the cost of a road safety audit

Here is how each factor changes the size of the job.

• Audit stage: feasibility, preliminary design and detailed design audits are mainly a desk-based review of the drawings, plus a site visit to see the existing conditions. A pre-opening audit includes a day inspection and a night inspection of the finished works, so it needs more time on site. Post-opening and existing roads audits centre on a site inspection, and existing roads audits also review the crash history. Roadworks and temporary traffic management audits review the TMP or TGS and the setup on the road.
• Project size and complexity: the length of road, the number of intersections, and whether there are interchanges, signals, safety barriers, or walking and cycling facilities. Each adds drawings to review and locations to inspect.
• Number of stages: if your project needs more than one stage, such as detailed design and pre-opening, it can be more efficient to scope them together up front. The audit team learns the project once, and later stages build on earlier findings.
• Site location and travel: sites in metropolitan Melbourne need less travel time than sites in regional Victoria. Travel matters most where both day and night inspections are needed.
• Information supplied: a complete, current design package lets the audit run efficiently. Missing drawings, or drawings that change during the audit, mean extra requests and extra review.
• The audit team: under Austroads Part 6, an audit is carried out by a team, led by an accredited auditor and independent of the design. Larger or more specialised projects may need a bigger team, or input on topics such as safety barriers.
• Road authority requirements: if the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) or a council will review the report, their requirements for the audit team, report format or close-out can add to the scope.
• Timeframe: a tight deadline, or a pre-opening inspection booked at short notice, can affect the scope and price. Tell us your dates early.
• Response and close-out support: after the report is issued, the client and designer respond to each finding. Some projects also need the auditor to review those responses, attend a close-out meeting or comment on revised drawings. Let us know if you expect this, so it can be included.

What a road safety audit quote usually includes

A clear quote tells you exactly what you're paying for. Ours set out:

• The scope: the project, the extent of works and the drawings to be audited
• The audit stage or stages covered
• Site inspections, including the night inspection for a pre-opening audit
• The audit team, led by an accredited Senior Road Safety Auditor
• An audit report with risk-rated findings by location, practical recommendations, annotated plans and site photos
• A response table so each finding can be closed out
• Close-out support, if your project needs it

It's worth checking what isn't included too, such as re-auditing revised drawings or extra inspections. A clear scope means no surprises later.

How to get an accurate quote quickly

Send what you have. We'll tell you if anything is missing. The more we can see, the more accurate the quote.

• Drawings or design package for the stage being audited
• Design report and design speed
• Crash history, for existing roads
• Traffic volumes, where relevant
• Site access details and any night inspection requirements
• The traffic management plan (TMP) or traffic guidance scheme (TGS), for roadworks audits

Also tell us which stage the audit is for, who will review the report (DTP, a council or a principal contractor), your deadline, and whether later stages will follow.

Use the contact form below, email info@freshengineering.com.au or call 0492 930 492, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm. We'll come back with a fixed fee and timing.

Why the cheapest audit can cost more

It's sensible to compare quotes. Compare the scope as well as the price.

An audit that misses a finding doesn't remove the risk. It moves it to a later stage, where it costs more to deal with. A finding at preliminary design is a change to a drawing. The same finding at pre-opening can mean rework, delay and cost.

When comparing quotes, check:

• Is the audit team led by an auditor with the accreditation the road authority requires?
• Is the audit team independent of the design team?
• Does a pre-opening quote include the night inspection?
• Is review of the responses and close-out covered, or extra?
• Will the report give the designer clear, buildable recommendations?

The earlier you bring the auditor in, the cheaper the findings are to act on.

Get a fixed quote from a Senior Road Safety Auditor

Fresh Engineering's audits are led by a Senior Road Safety Auditor with 15+ years in Victoria. We also hold TMD Cat 1, 2 & 3 and ASHTAS barrier accreditation, so roadworks and safety barrier issues are covered. We work across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

See our road safety audit service, read when you need a road safety audit, or send us your drawings for a free quote.

Frequently Asked Questions