This page relates to the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.
This is the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) policy on Safe System audits.
Date of issue: Updated June 2024 | NZTA may review and amend investment policies at any time, including in response to any changes in the Government Policy Statement on land transport.
To set out investment requirements for a Safe System audit for an improvement or renewal activity that involves vehicular traffic, walking and/or cycling, proposed for funding assistance from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF). The purpose of the Safe System audit is to ensure that investment of improvement or renewal activities are safe and not introducing new safety risks or reducing the safety performance of our transport network.
A Safe System audit is a formal, robust technical assessment of transport safety risks associated with transport improvements and renewal projects. Safe System audits should be routine and common practice.
Safe System audits must be undertaken at key stages of a project’s development and implementation, including:
These stages should not be seen as rigid, as all projects are not the same and will not always follow all the development stages as described above. The stages of a Safe System audit should match the project’s complexity and actual development stages. However, the earlier a Safe System audit is undertaken, the easier and less expensive it is to make changes. A Safe System audit only at the post-construction stage should be avoided, as often it is too late to make significant improvements if required.
The latest audit report and the project manager’s response to issues are to be attached to any Transport Investment Online (TIO) funding application.
Safe System audit guidelines for transport projects
Transport Investment Online(external link)
When a project manager can adequately demonstrate that Safe System issues arising from any changes are sufficiently negligible, that the principles of Safe System alignment have been met and that a Safe System audit is not warranted for a particular stage or stages, they can seek an exemption from the Safe System audit. An exemption declaration must be completed by the controlling authority’s project manager and be endorsed by an experienced specialist or road safety engineer. The completed exemption declaration must be attached to any Transport Investment Online (TIO) funding application.
The Safe System audit exemption form can be found on the webpage for Safe System audit guidelines for transport projects.
Safe System audit guidelines for transport projects
The requirement for a Safe System audit does not apply to auditing of the existing network or specialist applications, such as traffic control at roadwork sites.
Safe System audit guidelines for transport projects provides guidance about Safe System audits. It also includes a Safe System audit template and an exemption form template.
