Which of the following best describes the purpose of a road safety audit?

• A. It reduces construction costs
• B. It improves signage
• C. It formalizes the safety performance examination of a roadway by an independent, multidisciplinary team
• D. It trains local drivers

Answer: (C)

A road safety audit is a formal, independent examination of the safety performance of a roadway, carried out by a multidisciplinary team. Its purpose is to systematically identify potential safety issues and recommend mitigations before problems occur, ensuring safety considerations guide design and operation decisions. Because it is independent and involves professionals from different disciplines, the review provides an objective assessment of crash risk and safety improvements, not just aims like reducing costs, improving signage in isolation, or training drivers. This focus on formal, proactive safety evaluation by an expert team is why this description best captures the purpose.