Many people know the horror of fatal accidents on our roads. Over ten
thousand people are killed every year, more than 40% are pedestrians. Pedestrians are
most difficult to persuade into safer road conduct and they are the least
regulated or controlled of any road user. Research has shown that most accidents occur
whilst crossing the road without using a proper pedestrian crossing, - other causes
include not being visible at night, walking under the influence of alcohol,
unable to judge speed, jaywalking and many more. In order to alleviate this problem the
Sub-Directorate: Road Safety Education intends embarking on the Adult Pedestrian Project.
South Africa has become in the last three decades a very motorised society
and the infrastructure has been developed around the needs of the motorist (creating
better roads resulting in high speed) and less focus has been on the pedestrian.
The pedestrian has been placed in an environment not adequately sensitive to
his/her requirements resulting in an increase in the number of pedestrian
accidents. To compound the problem there has been no policy or sustainable
efforts in KZN and also SA to concentrate on pedestrian safety.
In an attempt to address this problem a leaf has been taken off Gauteng’s
Pedestrian Management Plan to try to bring all stakeholders together to solve
this difficult and very complicated pedestrian problem. In KZN with the
initiation of Asiphephe most of the stakeholders have already been sensitised
with the importance of road safety and there has been much decline in motorist
offences but the statistics of pedestrian fatalities has been on the incline
with an increase of 3% from 1997 which was 42% to 45% in 1998. There has been an
outcry from all sectors of the Province and the public that the Department come
up with solutions to this problem.
The Pedestrian Plan is a step in the right direction as it is a holistic
approach to managing and solving this problem and it looks at all facets
affecting pedestrians.
The Management Plan is a long term process however short term interventions
can be incorporate in this process because in certain black spot areas there is
an urgent need to implement some sort of road safety strategy. Areas such as
these are Murchison, Groutville, Mooi River, Uthungulu.
The Management Plan will be undertaken in different phases. The objective of
the first phase will be auditing the current pedestrian situation, the second
phase will be the formulation of the management plan and the third phase will be
the implementation of the Management Plan.
The first phase will involve the following:
Conducting an audit of the entire pedestrian situation in KZN ie. Look at
Engineering, Enforcement, Educational, Judicial aspects affecting pedestrians.
Identify target groups, areas and also look at the management of pedestrian data
in the Province.
The second phase will look at feedback from audit, look at long term
strategy, set up the necessary pedestrian structures, formulate a draft
management plan (business plans), obtain funding and under take other necessary
steps for this phase.
The third phase will involve the implementation of action plans and
monitoring of progress.
Phase One
Pedestrian data will have to be analysed. Information will be obtained from
Department of Transport, Metros eg. Durban, Central Statistical Services, Local
Authorities. At present there is no reliable data but a suggestion could be that
the Dept. of Transport establish a system similar to Durban Metro. The system
should also be standardised eg. all relevant roleplayers eg. Local Authorities
should use the same system. During the Easter Campaign in 2000 a web page was
set up for statistics and if this can be done throughout the year it would to an
extent solve the data collection problem. The Dept. of Health and Mortuary will
over and above SAPS be approached to obtain statistics.
Thereafter pedestrian black spot areas should be identified - looking at
harzadous locations, pedestrian facilities in those areas, type of pedestrian
offences in the area, what enforcement is done in that area.
Provincial and Local Traffic Authorities will be contacted to determine
problems experienced with regard to Legislation, Enforcement and promotion of
road safety.
Schools in the Province will be contacted to determine effectiveness of
educational material on pedestrian safety.
The relevant data must thereafter be captured.
Phase 2: Formulation of a Management Plan
Holding of workshops to obtain feedback on audit and obtain information
towards draft pedestrian management plan.
Formulation of the draft management plan with action plans, targets and
implementation strategy.
Sort out funding and monitor and evaluate progress towards targets.
Draw up a project report progress.
Phase 3: Implementation of Pedestrian Management Plan
Implementation of the management plan will depend on the content of the above
two phases. Implementation of the action plans will be the responsibility of
Provincial and Local Authorities. The private sector will play a part. CSIR
TRANSPORTEK will continuously monitor and evaluate progress of the Management
Plan. Training needs of engineers, traffic officers and consultants in the
correct assessment of need for pedestrian facilities will be addressed.
The starting point of the project will be the setting up of a Provincial
Pedestrian Committee which must come up with a Provincial Management Plan.
Stakeholders will include people from Metros, Local Authorities, Dept. of
Transport (Engineering, Enforcement, Education), Justice, Dept. of Land Affairs,
Dept. of Housing, Dept. of Education, Public Transport etc. Thereafter Metro and
Local Authority pedestrian committees must be formed and must include some of
the above and they each draft up their business plans on improving pedestrian
situation in their area. The Provincial Management Committee will:
Manage and co-ordinate pedestrian management plan for KZN
Approve local and Metro business plans
Approve and arrange funding for initiatives
Provide recommendations regarding legal issues
Integrate National Pedestrian initiatives
Develop strategies, policies, goals for pedestrian management in the Province.
A sound and ideal pedestrian environment should be created by looking at the
following
8.1 The Management of Information
Correct statistical data is essential and the type of data that must be captured is:
Location of accidents (black spot)
Format of data capturing must be standardised eg. all Local Authorities use
same system
Data should be available timeously
There must be a accident reporting structure (system) at Provincial
level where all data is accumulated
Staff should be trained on capturing data
8.2 Enforcement and Legislation
At present limited road traffic legislation together with the difficulty of
enforcing and adjudicating pedestrian offences exist for pedestrians. Given this
the following should be looked at:
Review current legislation affecting pedestrians
A court dealing with pedestrian offences must be set up and prosecution
official being aware of traffic offences
Identification of peak periods at pedestrian crossing and then have traffic
personnel man those points - improve both pedestrian and motorist behaviour
Enforce law that prohibits pedestrians on freeways
8.3 Education and Training
There is a need for education in the Management plan and the following needs attention:
Educational programmes at schools, industries, communities
Training of personnel data recording, pedestrian law enforcement, education
Initiation of Road Safety Councils (which have already started) to take
ownership of initiative empowering community with road safety skills
Creating employment for trainers in communities
Mass communication and public awareness campaigns
8.4 Engineering
The following is involved:
The development of pedestrian facilities
Identification of black spots and remedial measures taken
Establish data base for ongoing identification,
investigation and implementation of engineering initiatives
Obtain funding
Consult with different road agencies and road authorities for road
specifications
Erection of pedestrian warning signs
8.5 Funding
The fact that we want to create a safe environment for the pedestrian it is
important that all roleplayers contribute equally to this project. Partnerships
should be entered into with Local Authorities, Metro and even the private sector
to work together to reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries.
8.6 Evaluation
The following is necessary:
That road accident trends be monitored for 3 years after implementation
Pedestrian volumes be evaluated - 3 years
Law Enforcement and prosecution be looked at
Pedestrian behaviour be evaluated
The above is in line with the Department of Transport’s vision of
Prosperity through mobility and it will concentrate on the key focus areas of
saving lives. Value for money etc.
