Save a thought for the safety of commuters in South Africa!

Do we ever consider the safety of commuters, or do we merely criticize the often inconsiderate driving behavior of minibus taxi drivers – without reflecting on the safety of their passengers? There is an old joke of the priest and the taxi driver who got to the gates of heaven and after their interviews the taxi driver was given access through the gates with the priest staying behind. The priest enquired why the taxi driver was given entrance before him and the reply was that the taxi driver had more people praying in 30 minutes of commuting than the priest managed to influence in many years…!

The sad truth is that even though we share the same roads daily, few South Africans are aware of the plight of commuters. Commuters can be described as those members of the public who have to travel from and to their homes daily via shared transport – taxis, buses or train. I believe that if we would like to create awareness of road safety, we also need to create awareness of road safety challenges to different road users and to identify who these other road users are….

Statistics from 2006 reveal the following numbers:

Total Commuters: 17.7 million
Commuters on Taxis: 14,238 million [80%]
Commuters on Buses: 2,743 million [15.5%]
Commuters on Trains: 740,000 [4.5%]

Even though I have been involved in road safety for the past 5 years, I have found the above statistics staggering! It provides an indication not only of the massive reliance on minibus taxis, but also the need for a transport strategy that would increase effective rail and bus transport!

Statistics have also been compiled on the “day in the life of a commuter”, revealing the following information:

• Time spent in a taxi = 58 minutes
• Time spent in a bus = 66 minutes
• Time spent in a train = 68 minutes
[Data from Comutanet]

Special mention needs to be made of the importance of data collection and market research. No comprehensive and informed road safety strategy can be developed without data on driving patterns and road users. The Department of Transport has in recent road safety strategies referred to the importance of the Household Travel Survey [2003] in emphasizing the need to address specific matters such as the improvement of public transport.

When we reflect on the above statistics we gain more awareness of the plight of the minibus taxi commuter. But why only emphasize their challenges and not also that of other commuters? Bus and train commuters rely on transport that is much more regulated – with specific routes and specific times of departure and arrivals. The income of minibus taxi drivers are directly correlated with the amount of “trips” and this result in often dangerous driving behavior and transgression of the rules of the road.

The minibus commuter often does not have the choice of waiting in line for other safer modes of public transport – and has to place his life in the hands of operators that might expose him to un-roadworthy vehicles, overloading and other traffic violations.

A better understanding of all these road safety and transport infrastructure facts will also provide a better understanding of aspects such as the importance of taxi recapitalization and enhanced public transport.

I believe more information and communication is required as part of the Arrive Alive road safety strategy. A better understanding and awareness of the challenges could assist in addressing many aspects of road safety!