CIHT logo

CIHT & SoRSA to Award Highways Agency Certificate of Competency

CIHT & SoRSA to Award Highways Agency Certificate of Competency

The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) & the Society of Road Safety Auditors (SoRSA) are to award a new Road Safety Audit Certificate of Competency on behalf of the Highways Agency.

From December 2013 to be compliant, EC Directives require at least one member of a Road Safety Audit Team to hold a Certificate of Competency (CoC) when undertaking a Road Safety Audit on the Trans-European network which includes much of UK Motorway and Trunk Roads.

The assessment and certification processes developed by SoRSA have been formally approved by the Highways Agency. CIHT, through SoRSA, is consequently in a position to award CoCs via the Portfolio of Evidence Route to applicants who demonstrate the necessary understanding, experience and expertise. As with SoRSA membership, access to the CoC is open to CIHT members and non-members.

Julian Bartlett, SoRSA Chair

“For many years the UK has lead the world in the safety review of its roads, the introduction of this certificate ensures consistency across Europe and will contribute to improved road safety.”

Notes to editors

Interim Advice Note 152/11 ‘Road Safety Audit – Compliance with EC Directive 2008/96/EC’ requires that by 19th December 2013 at least one member of a Road Safety Audit Team must hold a Certificate of Competency (CoC) when undertaking a Road Safety Audit on the UK Motorway and Trunk Road network. Certification does not require renewal.

Applicants are required to provide evidence that they satisfy the guidance and requirements set out in HD 19/03 (or its latest equivalent) and IAN 152/11. Evidence will take a number of forms, including as examples the completion of a number of Road Safety Audits within a specified time period and the applicants understanding, experience and expertise against the 4 Core Modules detailed in IAN 152/11.

Certification does not require renewal

SoRSA
SoRSA (Society of Road Safety Auditors) represents an exciting initiative for the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), in providing a home for the development of professional highways safety auditing best practice.

SoRSA has been established by the Institution as a response to a growing call from professionals operating in the field of safety auditing and safety engineering practice in the UK, for a forum to exchange best practice and, importantly, to provide advice and ultimately routes to professional recognition for safety auditing practitioners.

Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation
CIHT is a membership organisation representing over 12,000 people who work in the highways and transportation sector.

CIHT members plan, design, build, operate and maintain best-in-class transport systems and infrastructure, whilst respecting the imperatives of improving safety, ensuring economic competitiveness and minimising environmental impact.

CIHT supports its member’s professional endeavours by:
• offering training, information, professional development and support
• promoting the value added to society by the profession
• being the focused voice to Governments and other decision makers on transportation expertise and knowledge.

For more information please contact:

Daniel Isichei, Director of Communications
t: +44 (0) 20 7336 1567 m: 07912122573 e: Daniel.Isichei@ciht.org.uk
www.ciht.org.uk