Kenngineering Notes: My 10 weirdest Road Safety Audits… so far
Apr 15, 2026
Last week I completed my 200th Road Safety Audit, which got me reflecting on some of the more unusual projects over 20+ years. While all RSAs have something interesting, these stood out for their uniqueness.
Here’s my top 10:
𝗬𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗮 𝗗𝗼𝘁𝘀 Polka dots were painted on local streets as a traffic calming measure, with reports of kids using them as hopscotch. A good idea for more liveable/vibrant streets, but speeds were still too high to safely support that use.
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 On ramp metering is one thing. Doing it between two 100 km/h freeways brings a whole new level of complexity around startup, queues, compliance, and sight distance.
𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 The first on a major arterial. Initially controversial, but the Post Opening RSA allowed us to observe real behaviour across drivers, pedestrians and riders.
𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 Adding coloured lighting required careful consideration of distraction risk and appropriate controls.
𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 Rapid Covid rollouts meant early audits focused on understanding risk, layout and the adequacy of protection for diners.
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 Assessing digital advertising at scale across a network, with a strong focus on site context and distraction.
𝗔𝗡𝗭𝗔𝗖 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Moving imagery and projections along major freeways required careful thinking about distraction and the risks associated with laser projections across motorways.
𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 Four days riding the network. Large scale, with clever use of existing structures as underpasses.
𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 Large turbines created distraction and tourist behaviour, with people slowing, stopping and pulling over to take photos.
𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 (𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗥𝗱) A large scale audit used to workshop broader rider safety issues with a wide group of stakeholders.
Road Safety Audits are a great way to ensure road/street safety is thoroughly considered for any project that interacts with the road or street network, or any related area or path.
Feel free to share your weirdest RSAs in the comments…
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Follow Kenn Beer on LinkedIn for more updates and road safety industry news.
Last week I completed my 200th Road Safety Audit, which got me reflecting on some of the more unusual projects over 20+ years. While all RSAs have something interesting, these stood out for their uniqueness.
Here’s my top 10:
Polka dots were painted on local streets as a traffic calming measure, with reports of kids using them as hopscotch. A good idea for more liveable/vibrant streets, but speeds were still too high to safely support that use.
On ramp metering is one thing. Doing it between two 100 km/h freeways brings a whole new level of complexity around startup, queues, compliance, and sight distance.
The first on a major arterial. Initially controversial, but the Post Opening RSA allowed us to observe real behaviour across drivers, pedestrians and riders.
Adding coloured lighting required careful consideration of distraction risk and appropriate controls.
Rapid Covid rollouts meant early audits focused on understanding risk, layout and the adequacy of protection for diners.
Assessing digital advertising at scale across a network, with a strong focus on site context and distraction.
Moving imagery and projections along major freeways required careful thinking about distraction and the risks associated with laser projections across motorways.
Four days riding the network. Large scale, with clever use of existing structures as underpasses.
Large turbines created distraction and tourist behaviour, with people slowing, stopping and pulling over to take photos.
A large scale audit used to workshop broader rider safety issues with a wide group of stakeholders.
Road Safety Audits are a great way to ensure road/street safety is thoroughly considered for any project that interacts with the road or street network, or any related area or path.
Feel free to share your weirdest RSAs in the comments…
————-
Follow Kenn Beer on LinkedIn for more updates and road safety industry news.