Beyond BCR: ensuring return on investment while strategically delivering safe system outcomes

The Safe System philosophy demands that risks be dealt with systematically. The Towards Zero Strategy attempts to introduce a systematic and proactive approach to dealing with risk on the road network. Enabling this approach has required changes to the role of Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) in project selection, prioritisation and approval. Historically projects have been required to meet minimum BCRs which are calculated using recent crash history. A new approach has been devised to enable Victoria’s Safe System Road Infrastructure Program (SSRIP) to deal proactively and systematically with safety risks.