Audit and Quality Assurance services for TRACS Type Surveys (TTS) automated road condition survey vehicles throughout England

For the Financial Year 2004/05 the Department for Transport identified TTS as the only acceptable survey method that English Local Highway Authorities may use to calculate the Best Value Performance Indicator BV96. In order to generate BV96 the TTS data is required to have been provided by an 'accredited' TTS machine that complies with the requirements of the TTS Advice Note and Specification Version 1.0. To provide local authorities, and DfT, with confidence that the TTS data is consistent and suitable for both national performance monitoring, and to support local maintenance operations, a quality assurance procedure was developed and fully incorporated into the TTS specification. The department appointed TRL as independent auditor, to provide the quality assurance services defined in the TTS specification. TRL achieved this by carrying out quality audits and through the provision of independent advice and consultancy services to both survey contractors and local authorities in relation to accredited TTS surveys carried out on the English Principal Road Network for the financial year 2004/05. This report presents the summary results of the quality audits carried out on TTS survey vehicles in 2004/05, and also summarises the advice and consultancy provided to local authorities.