Inter-evaluator consistency in road safety audits: Evidence from on-site and hybrid evaluations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58922/transportes.v34.e3223Keywords:
Road Safety Audit, Hybrid inspection, Inter-evaluator variability, Standardized checklist, Audit objectivity.Abstract
Road Safety Audits are a key instrument in proactive risk management for transport infrastructure, though their effectiveness may be influenced by evaluator variability and subjective judgment. This study empirically assessed variability, consistency, and reliability across two inspection modes: conventional on-site inspections and hybrid inspections combining virtual assessment with targeted field verification. Six auditors examined a 10 km section of the BR-116 highway in São Paulo, Brazil, using a 126-item checklist. Statistical analysis, employing the Relative Dispersion Index (RDI) and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC, two-way random effects, absolute agreement), indicated moderate reliability for on-site inspections (ICC = 0.584), good reliability for hybrid inspections (ICC = 0.824), and overall moderate reliability (ICC = 0.629). Hybrid inspections demonstrated greater consistency, with variability primarily linked to interpretive complexity of checklist items. These findings provide empirical support for hybrid approaches, fostering more reproducible, scalable, and transparent audit practices.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rogério Lemos Ribeiro, Giulliano Renato Molinero, Pedro Henrique Vicentini da Silva, Barbara Stolte Bezerra, Michelle Andrade

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