In recent years it has become more common for clients to ask for a variety of "highway audits" at varying stages of scheme design and implementation.
MERAKI can carry out different types of audits for a variety of road users including cyclists, pedestrians, equestrians and people with disabilities.
Individual audits can be carried out for a variety of road users including cyclists, pedestrians, equestrians and people with disabilities.
In addition, a Quality Audit combines some or all of the individual audits and provides an overall assessment of a scheme.
How these audits fit together
Any of the above audit types may be required in addition to a Road Safety Audit within a particular scheme. It is the responsibility of the client to organise these audits, and to balance any conflicting recommendations.
In practice, whilst the Road Safety Audit is always an independent assessment, the above audits are often carried out by the Design Team. If this is the case, the other audits should be submitted to the Road Safety Auditor as part of the information for the Road Safety Audit.
MERAKI has extensive experience in carrying out all types of audits for a diverse range of clients throughout the UK. Please refer to the links on the left of this page to find out more details about the specific types of audits we can carry out.
Accessibility Audit
Highway Authorities are required by the Disability Discrimination Acts to promote equality and to ensure that disabled people are able to contribute to and benefit from a fully inclusive built environment.
They should be proactive in ensuring that disabled people are treated fairly, including taking reasonable steps to rectify pre-existing examples of non-compliance.
Our experience
The most effective auditors are those who are imaginative and open-minded, as well as fully conversant with the latest research and guidelines. Much of the skill of a good accessibility auditor is acquired from experience and common sense.
For some time before the full implications of the Disability Act became apparent, MERAKI had been providing relatively small-scale accessibility audit reports for clients.
Over the years MERAKI has been involved in a diverse range of accessibility schemes for organisations in both the public and private sectors including Local Authorities and Highways England
Cycle Audit
The fundamental purpose of a Cycle Audit is to identify whether the overall design is cycle-friendly and the specific measures to assist cyclists, are designed in accordance with best practice there are many standards but more recently MERAKI has been involved in using the toolbox associated with LTN 1/20.
A Cycle Audit is a systematic process, applied to planned changes to the transport network, which is designed to ensure that opportunities to encourage cycling are considered comprehensively and that cycling considerations are not inadvertently made worse.
The fundamental purpose of a Cycle Audit is to identify whether the overall design is cycle-friendly and the specific measures to assist cyclists, are designed in accordance with best practice.
It is essential that a good cycling infrastructure is achieved wherever possible, in relation to its coherence, directness, attractiveness, safety and comfort. Any issues that are identified within the audit are to be addressed during the design process.
Our experience
MERAKI has carried out numerous Cycle Audits for a variety of clients including Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council; and Highways England.
Mobility Audit
Mobility Audits are sometimes referred to as Accessibility Audits or Disability Audits. The Mobility Audit is a check on the scheme to ensure appropriate access to the highway for a range of users with disabilities. Many of these aspects can be checked as part of the Road safety Audit.
The audit should consider the provision for:
- visually impaired pedestrians
- hearing-impaired pedestrians
- wheelchair users
- mobility-impaired people
It focuses on barriers and obstacles that these users could face whilst negotiating the
It is now a statutory duty for highway authorities to provide reasonable access to the highway for disabled road users, within new schemes.
The Audit is generally carried out in accordance with the procedures and checklists as set out in the Institution of Highways and Transportation’s Document ‘Reducing Mobility Handicaps: Towards a Barrier-Free Environment.’
Quality Audit
MERAKI are able to offer a Quality Audit service, as outlined in Manual for Streets
Through MERAKI, they will be able to provide all the elements required for an effective Quality Audit, and also to provide, when needed, the background and expertise necessary to manage the process as a whole.
Quality Audit is fairly new within the industry and some clients, in particular Local Authorities, are uncertain of how Quality Audit should be integrated within the design and implementation of schemes.
If you would like more detailed information about our Quality Audit service and our involvement within the process, please refer to the links below:
Road Safety Audit
MERAKI has developed a reputation as experts in the field of Road Safety Audit and has carried out over 5000 Road Safety Audits for a diverse range of clients throughout the UK.
MERAKI has a team of four Road Safety Auditors, who are all fully qualified to meet Highways England requirements, as set out in DMRB GG119 (formerly HD 19/15). MERAKI auditors hold the HE approved Certificate of Competency in Road Safety Audit, enabling each team to carry out road safety audits on the UK Strategic Trunk Road and Motorway network and the Trans-European Road Network (TERN).
Meraki Alliance Ltd (JHB Consulting Ltd) can undertake
- Road Safety Audit Stage 1 Concept Design
- Road Safety Audit Combined Stage 1/2 Pre Construction
- Road Safety Audit Stage 2 Pre Construction
- Road Safety Audit Stage 3 Post Construction
- Road Safety Audit Stage 4 12 Months Post Opening
We have undertaken a large number of Road Safety Audits for Highways England, Developers, Consultants, Designers and Local Authorities with the following range of schemes being covered.
- Small scale safety improvements
- Minor junction changes
- Non-motorised user improvements’
- Cycle schemes
- Developments S278 and S38 works including housing, industrial and super markets
- Structures and road restraint systems
- Signing and lining schemes
- Major junction improvements including priority, roundabout and signalised junctions
- Major maintenance schemes
- Street lighting
- Managed/Smart Motorways
We can pretty much Audit anything.
Our timescales
We understand the pressures of tight project deadlines and the need for clients to receive a competitive, responsive and flexible service.
MERAKI completes road safety audits within ten working days but this can be as little as five days or less for urgent Road Safety Audits, using our premium service. MERAKI is very flexible and aims to meet clients specific project deadlines.
WCHAR
WCHAR - Walking, Cycling and Horse Riding Assessment & Review HD 42/17
The WCHAR process applies to all highway schemes where there is a potential impact on pedestrians, cyclists or equestrians on the motorway and all-purpose trunk road network, including smart motorway schemes where alterations are being made.
The emphasis is very much on planning for non-motorised users from the outset with a Walking, Cycling & Horse-Riding Assessment Review to be carried out during the options or concept stage of a highway scheme and before the commencement of preliminary design activities. This is then followed by an ongoing review during the various design stages of the highway scheme recording the design decisions relating to the provision of Walking, Cycling and Horse-Riding Facilities. We are able to undertake WCHAR as Lead Assessor.
