The road to tackling South Africa’s high fatality rates
The festive season has arrived, yet one pressing issue continues to dampen our holiday cheer: the country’s infamously high road fatality rate. In the six week-period during 2022/23 festive season alone, a staggering average of 40 people lost their lives every day on South Africa’s roads, of whom 41% were pedestrians – nearly double the global average.
South Africa is home to the 10th-largest road network in the world, which stretches approximately 750 000 kilometres. Given the extensive reach of this network, ensuring road safety remains a significant challenge. But, while the overwhelming majority of accidents remains the result of human error, the design and construction of roads are also key to improving road safety and eliminating all traffic fatalities.
Safeguarding pedestrians and cyclists
Notably, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), jaywalking remains the single greatest contributory factor in accidents involving pedestrians, accounting for around one in three of all road-related fatalities. So, to address the critical issue of pedestrian deaths, infrastructure developers must incorporate formal footpaths and pedestrian crossings into designs.
Likewise, designs should be carefully analysed and stress-tested to avoid errors that could aggravate the risk of accidents, such as guard rails and poles placed on narrow pavements that may force pedestrians and cyclists into the road.
Additionally, leading infrastructure developers such as Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC) actively encourage public participation in all road projects, as these provide vital insights into the needs of local communities and how they will use the road network. Through this participation process, developers can play a role in educating communities on road safety and improving pedestrian behaviour, while ensuring all designs are fit for purpose, working collaboratively to positively impact and even save lives.
Safer road design and construction
Another major contributor to accidents in South Africa is speeding. But, through meticulous planning and best design practices, professional infrastructure developers such as GIC can reduce risky behaviour and encourage sensible driving with speed-calming measures. These could include narrowing lanes by extending the size of sidewalks or creating pedestrian refuges, or introducing measures such as chicanes, speed bumps or roundabouts. However, these measures must be balanced with an eye to traffic flow and distribution so that they do not create unnecessary bottlenecks.
Through employing advanced engineering techniques and materials, developers can further help manage dangers such as wet or slippery road surfaces, which remain the greatest environmental risk to local road users.
For instance, developers like GIC can implement robust stormwater management and drainage systems with hardwearing materials that are resistant to water damage, reducing long-term maintenance costs while lowering the threat of flooding. Stormwater drainage is also essential to reducing hazardous potholes, creating gaps in pavements that allow water to seep through rather than pooling and corroding the roadway.
The design of the road itself is critical to its durability and ability to resist wear and tear. When the elevation of a road’s crown is excessively high, the impact of concentrated traffic can lead to the creation of longitudinal indentations, resulting in the accumulation of water. Conversely, if the crown is too low, it causes small hollows where water can gather and potentially weaken the roadbed.
Supporting commuters
Among the other top 10 contributing factors to road fatalities in South Africa listed by the RTMC are head-on collisions, poor road visibility, and substandard road surfaces. However, the risk of accidents diminishes significantly where infrastructure developers work to manage roadside hazards like trees or fixed objects, physically separate opposing traffic, and promote adequate visibility for all motorists and road users.
For example, developers can employ high-quality illuminated paint for lane separation and directional signs, along with durable road studs and textured speed humps that are specifically designed for nighttime travel. These measures serve to regulate traffic flow and reduce the likelihood of single-vehicle accidents and collisions.
Furthermore, as the government works diligently to roll out new roads and upgrade gravel roads in South Africa’s informal settlements and rural communities, GIC has been fortunate to work with many public sector partners on projects. These enhancements bolster local infrastructure, mobility and access to basic necessities.
Ultimately, a multifaceted approach is imperative to curbing persistently high road fatality rates. Through the proactive efforts of infrastructure developers in collaboration with public partners, we can realise the dream of a zero road-fatality future, ensuring the safety and well-being of all road-users.
Roelof van den Berg
Chief Executive Officer
