The paper examines the approach that has been adopted by the UK Highways Agency (HA) to the definition and management of operational risk on Managed Motorway schemes. It will demonstrate and evidence the success of the adoption of this approach where it has been applied on operational schemes to date. The role of the Highway Authority has migrated over recent years to one of Network Operator. More complex and flexible systems are being introduced with dynamic management capabilities (increasing role of technology). The operation of the road space has been fundamentally altered. There are new demands on motorists and the Operator needs to demonstrate that projects are implemented with an appropriate level of safety. This is necessitated in order to provide road users, road workers and additional 3rd parties with adequate risk protection Setting safety objectives for a project provides a means of ensuring that the project is aiming to achieve an appropriate level of safety. Safety objectives should balance road user safety, road worker safety and third party safety with Project Cost. Safety objectives should take into account any global safety objectives. It is essential that one starts by understanding the problem and defining what success looks like. There needs to be a clear understanding of how the network will operate and recognition that safety is one of the keys to this and may drive the design. Evidence sources need to be identified along with the project constraints. This leads to definition of the operational characteristics (known as regimes) and a common understanding of how the scheme is expected to operate. Following such a process in a systematic manner, underpinned by application of the hazard based approach will lead to successful scheme outcomes The paper will present the methodology that has been developed and applied to achieve successful scheme outcomes. It will also present the approach and the monitoring and review strategy that has contributed to creation of the evidence base that assists in informing and shaping future interventions on the network.
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