Highway Safety Inspection Policy

1. Oxfordshire County Council, in its capacity as the local Highway Authority, has statutory duties that both directly and indirectly place an obligation on maintenance of the highway.
2. The county council’s Highway Safety Inspection regime forms a part of a system of maintenance and safeguarding to ensure the safe and expeditious passage of all road users.
3. Safety inspections will take into consideration all aspects of the highway including carriageways, footways and principle rights of way.
4. The county council will manage, maintain, and operate the network to support the county’s vision of a greener, fairer and healthier county, as described in our Strategic Plan 2025-2028.

Policy: HSI1 

The county council will take an evidence led and risk/ needs-based approach to the inspection of the highway and the categorisation/ remediation of defects identified.

Policy: HSI2 

Highway inspections will be undertaken on both a routine planned basis, as well as being reactive; where necessary, in response to reports from members of the public, Fix My Street superusers, the police, and other stakeholders.

Policy: HSI3 

The method and frequency of inspecting the highway will depend on; the asset type, network hierarchy, traffic use, traffic speed and enquiry/defect repair history, as detailed within Oxfordshire’s Highways Inspection Procedure.

Policy: HSI4 

Any repairs identified through the inspection process will be dealt with in accordance with the Highways Safety Inspection and Repair Procedure and relevant defect repair processes, taking into consideration the road type and location of the identified defect.

Policy: HSI5 

Where the repair timeframe allows, preference will be afforded to planned preventative and restorative maintenance treatments whilst minimising reactive repairs

Policy: HSI6 

Without prejudice, the highway inspection regime will have particular regard to vulnerable users, more sustainable modes of transportation, and the environment.

Policy: HSI7 

Oxfordshire make appropriate use of digital and technological innovation, including Artificial Intelligence, to enhance the quality, efficiency, and resilience of highway safety inspections.

Service aims

Reference and supporting documents

• Highway Safety Inspections Procedure
• 2022-2027 Highway Infrastructure Asset Maintenance Approach