Road safety in the Caribbean region: safe infrastructure from edX

Do you know that 18% of road crashes could be related to the quality of road infrastructure?

Studies pointed out that unlocking the potential of USD 1.4 trillion in targeted investment in safer roads would achieve 467 thousand lives a year.

Are road investments enough?

In a world where mobility patterns change fast due mainly to urbanization in Latin American and Caribbean countries, we should break the old concepts of car-oriented road design and move to more inclusive roads for all users. More than road investments, road engineers and public officers should learn the new concepts of road design, how to assess the quality of road networks from a safety standpoint and apply the right tools to build a more forgiving road.

In this course, you will learn more about the importance of road safety audits and inspections (RSAs and RSIs) for safer road infrastructure. The course will explore the RSAs’ methodologies and good practices worldwide, especially, in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Through readings, videos, hands-on activities, and examples from countries around the world, the course will support the learners in changing road design practices.

Enjoy the second course from the Road Safety series and be prepared to apply these concepts to build a safer road in your country!

This course is "self-paced" so you can enroll at any time, even if the course has been open for a while. You can take it at the time that is most suitable for you inside the enrollment period of the course.

If you choose the Audit Track , you will have unlimited access to the course content, but you won't be able to complete the assessed activities or receive the certificate.

If you opt for the Verified track , you can access the course in an unlimited way and complete the qualified evaluations until the closing date after making a payment of $10. If you pass, in addition to the verified certificate, you will obtain a digital badge *that allows you to change how you share your academic and professional achievements, for example, on social media.

*Did you know there is financial aid to opt for the verified certificate?

1. edX financial help: edX offers financial assistance for learners who want to earn Verified Certificates but may not be able to pay the Verified Certificate fee. Subscribe to the course and apply for financial assistance.

See more information in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

What's inside

Learning objectives

At the end of this course, you will be able to:
A. identify good practices and methodologies in the application of road safety audits and inspections.
B. identify the road safety needs of non-motorized transport users.

C. recognize one's own needs and vulnerabilities as a motorized and non-motorized transport user.
D. compare successful versus unsuccessful practices in the safe integration of non-motorized modes of transportation.

At the end of this course, you will be able to:
A. identify good practices and methodologies in the application of road safety audits and inspections.
B. identify the road safety needs of non-motorized transport users.
C. recognize one's own needs and vulnerabilities as a motorized and non-motorized transport user.
D. compare successful versus unsuccessful practices in the safe integration of non-motorized modes of transportation.

Syllabus

Introductory Module: A Safer Road Infrastructure

Introduction to basic road design concepts.

Module 1: Road Safety Audits and Inspections

This module presents the importance of road safety audits and inspections, and the process to carry out one. You will learn about the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), one of the most prestigious methodologies to inspect roads.

Module 2: The Infrastructure in the context of the Safe System Approach

This module introduces the concept of Vision Zero and 5-star Roads for all users and presents success stories from the Caribbean. You will also learn about experiences of urban road design.

Conclusions

Summary of main ideas and final evaluation.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for road and highway engineers, traffic managers, urban planners, and policy-makers

Increased safety for NMT users

Self-paced course allows for flexibility in learning

Presents the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) for road inspections

Introduces Vision Zero and 5-star Roads for all users concept

Includes examples of urban road design

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Road safety in the Caribbean region: safe infrastructure with these activities:

Gather materials for research

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Course staff have provided many resources. Compile them with external materials to strengthen understanding

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Review course materials
Identify additional resources to be gathered
Gather resources

Review road design basics

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Review fundamental principles of road design to strengthen your understanding of roadway infrastructure.

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Study principles of roadway alignment and geometric design.
Review traffic engineering concepts, such as traffic flow analysis and intersection design.
Study pavement design and materials.

Follow tutorials to learn road safety practices

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Use tutorials to further understand and refine your knowledge of road safety

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Identify tutorials to follow
Follow the tutorials
Apply what you have learned

Eight other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all 11 activities

Engage in discussions with peers

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Discuss ideas, questions, and topics with other students. Discuss points of disagreement

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Identify a discussion topic
Find a peer to discuss with
Engage in discussion

Inspect a road through simulation

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Use the iRAP system to virtually inspect roads to develop your understanding of road safety

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Create an account in iRAP
Select a road to inspect
Inspect the road using the iRAP methodology
Submit your inspection report

Read IRAP Road Safety Audit Guidelines

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Become familiar with the International Road Assessment Programme's guidelines on road safety audits to enhance your understanding of the methodologies and best practices covered in Module 1.

View Road Safety Annual Report 2013 on Amazon

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Download the guidelines from the iRAP website.
Read through the document, paying attention to the audit process and key principles.
Take notes and highlight important sections for future reference.

Develop a safety infrastructure improvement plan

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Using knowledge of RSSA, create a plan outlining improvement strategies for a specific road

Browse courses on Infrastructure

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Identify the road to be improved
Conduct a road safety audit
Develop a list of improvement strategies
Prioritize the improvement strategies
Create a plan for implementing the improvement strategies

Participate in a Road Safety Audit

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Gain practical experience and contribute to road safety improvement by volunteering as an observer or participant in a real-world road safety audit.

Browse courses on Community Engagement

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Contact local authorities or road safety organizations to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Attend training sessions and familiarize yourself with the audit process.
Participate in road safety audits and provide your observations.

Mentor Junior Road Safety Professionals

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Share your knowledge and experience in road safety by mentoring junior professionals or students.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Identify opportunities to mentor through professional organizations or educational institutions.
Provide guidance and support to mentees on road safety best practices and career development.
Share real-world experiences and case studies to illustrate key concepts.

Design a Safer Road Intersection

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Apply the principles of road safety audits and the Safe System Approach to propose a safer design for a specific road intersection in your community.

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Identify a problematic intersection in your area.
Conduct a road safety audit of the intersection.
Propose design improvements based on your audit findings.
Present your design to local authorities or community groups.

Contribute to Open Source Road Safety Projects

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Deepen your understanding of road safety by contributing to open-source projects that develop tools or resources related to road safety.

Browse courses on Road Safety

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Identify open-source road safety projects on platforms like GitHub.
Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute.
Submit bug reports, feature requests, or code contributions.

Career center

Learners who complete Road safety in the Caribbean region: safe infrastructure will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Road Design Engineer

Road Design Engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction of roads and highways. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of road design principles to create roads that are safe for all users. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for ensuring that roads are built to the highest safety standards. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Road Design Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Road Design Engineer

Traffic Engineer

Traffic Engineers plan, design, and operate traffic systems to improve safety and efficiency. They use their knowledge of traffic flow and safety principles to develop solutions to traffic problems. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for identifying and addressing safety hazards on roads. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Traffic Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Traffic Engineer

Transportation Planner

Transportation Planners develop and implement plans to improve transportation systems. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of transportation planning principles to create transportation systems that are safe for all users. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for ensuring that transportation systems are built to the highest safety standards. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Transportation Planner.

See salaries and explore the career path for Transportation Planner

Civil Engineer

Civil Engineers design, build, and maintain the physical infrastructure of our world, including roads, bridges, and buildings. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of civil engineering principles to create structures that are safe for all users. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for ensuring that civil engineering projects are built to the highest safety standards. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Civil Engineer.

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Urban Planner

Urban Planners develop plans to improve the physical environment of cities and towns. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of urban planning principles to create communities that are safe for all residents. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for ensuring that urban planning projects are built to the highest safety standards. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as an Urban Planner.

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Safety Manager

Safety Managers develop and implement safety programs to protect workers and the public from accidents and injuries. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of safety principles to create safe workplaces and communities. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for identifying and addressing safety hazards in the workplace. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Safety Manager.

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Risk Manager

Risk Managers identify and assess risks to organizations and develop strategies to mitigate those risks. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of risk management principles to create safe and secure organizations. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for identifying and addressing safety risks in organizations. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Risk Manager.

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Insurance Underwriter

Insurance Underwriters assess risks and determine the appropriate insurance premiums for individuals and businesses. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of insurance principles to create insurance policies that protect people and property. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for assessing the safety of risks and determining appropriate insurance premiums. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as an Insurance Underwriter.

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Loss Control Consultant

Loss Control Consultants help organizations identify and mitigate risks to reduce losses. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of loss control principles to create safe and secure organizations. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for identifying and addressing safety risks in organizations. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Loss Control Consultant.

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Auditor

Auditors examine financial records and other documents to ensure that they are accurate and complete. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of auditing principles to identify and address financial risks. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for identifying and addressing safety risks in organizations. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as an Auditor.

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Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Managers develop and implement quality assurance programs to ensure that products and services meet safety and quality standards. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of quality assurance principles to create safe and high-quality products and services. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for identifying and addressing safety risks in products and services. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Quality Assurance Manager.

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Program Manager

Program Managers plan, implement, and evaluate programs to achieve specific goals. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of program management principles to create safe and effective programs. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for identifying and addressing safety risks in programs. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Program Manager.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects to achieve specific goals. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of project management principles to create safe and successful projects. This course provides a strong foundation in road safety audits and inspections, which are essential for identifying and addressing safety risks in projects. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Project Manager.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers plan, direct, and coordinate the operations of an organization. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of operations management principles to create safe and efficient operations. This course may be helpful for Operations Managers who are responsible for overseeing road safety programs.

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Safety Inspector

Safety Inspectors examine workplaces and equipment to ensure that they are safe for workers and the public. They consider safety as a top priority and use their knowledge of safety inspection principles to identify and address safety hazards. This course may be helpful for Safety Inspectors who are responsible for inspecting roads and highways.

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