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Semira Mohammed |
The role of severe law enforcement and other interventions to improve road safety in South Africa is being investigated by the CSIR. The research is part of the NyendaWeb project led by Kobus Labuschagne. It uses advanced technologies for improved transport and traffic-related data with the aim of improving transport system performance measurement and researchers' evaluation capabilities.
Semira Mohammed, who conducts traffic engineering research at the CSIR, reviewed the effects of draconian policies and laws on road traffic safety. She also analysed measures that are easy, affordable and outcome-driven to help curb the South African road safety crisis.
"We found from a number of literature reviews that the success of traffic enforcement depends on its ability to create a meaningful detection threat to road users. The primary focus should be on increasing surveillance levels to ensure that people perceive it as highly likely that they will be caught," she explains. "Once this has been achieved, increasing the severity of punishment and the quick and efficient administration of such punishment could enhance the deterrent effect and contribute to increasing road safety," says Mohammed.
In November 2007, South Africa had a total of more than 9 million vehicles, of which 5,2 million were cars; 1,8 million light delivery vehicles; 302 000 trucks; 275 000 minibuses; and 40 000 buses. The rest were heavy vehicles, trailers and motorcycles. International comparisons indicate that South Africa falls far outside best practice in the world, with a rate of 19,83 fatalities per
10 000 vehicles and 30,15 fatalities per 100 000 people. Some 95% of road traffic accidents happen as a result of one or more traffic offences committed.
The Ministers of Transport in Africa have adopted a resolution aiming for 50% reduction in accident fatalities by 2014, i.e. a 10% reduction per year. South Africa further needs to reduce this rate before the 2010 Soccer World Cup to create a safer environment.
As law enforcement regarding road offences increases, the number of accidents and casualties decreases, but only up to a certain point, after which increased enforcement has little or no effect because of saturation level. "Researchers therefore need to establish the levels of policing required to bring about the initial decrease and to reach the saturation point," suggests Mohammed.
Automated systems can be used for enforcing a number of violations, including speed; running red lights; headway violations; toll payment violations; using bus lanes illegally; and violating vehicle weight restrictions. Red light cameras at signalised intersections, with a posted warning sign in advance, seem to curb accidents in general by 11% and all injury accidents by 12% in some international studies.
When one looks at specific offences, for example drunken driving, various enforcement methods have been used across the world. The random breath testing method, with accompanying high visibility and publicity campaigns, seems to be far more effective than roadblocks or checkpoint programmes.
As for the demerit system, it appears that when demerit points start accumulating, the number of subsequent violations tend to decrease, which indicates an expected driver-specific effect.
Researchers will still have to find answers to a number of issues, including:
- The verifiable factors contributing to road traffic crashes
- The effect of levels of policing on road accidents and casualties in South African cities
- Deterrents that work best in South Africa
- The expected effect of the point demerit system on road safety.
"One can't simply say strict laws will improve road safety - much research needs to be conducted on the relationships among the different police enforcement levels, and on the definable links between non-compliance of drivers and occurrence of accidents," concludes Mohammed.
Enquiries: CSIR Communication
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