Limpopo pave strategy: a new approach to provincial traffic resource management in South Africa

Abstract

Paper presented at the 26th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 9 - 12 July 2007 "The challenges of implementing policy?", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. ABSTRACT: The Limpopo Department Roads and Transport embarked upon a new approach to manage road traffic management in the province. The PAVE strategy (Professionalism, Awareness, Visibility, Education) was conceptualised with the objective to enhance the current traffic management strategies, especially which regard to the traffic law enforcement function in line with the key outcomes, performance targets, KRAs and KPIs as contained in the Department of Roads and Transport Management Plan 2005/6 – 2009/10, as well as the Service Standards for core functions as prescribed by the Department of Roads and Transport. The brief of this study was to identify the resources that are required to transform the PAVE strategy into a fully operational strategy. A holistic approach was followed to gain as much information as possible on the issues and processes that could impact on the transformation of the PAVE principles into an operational strategy and work plan for traffic law enforcement, traffic management and administration (road safety, vehicle testing and licensing, driver testing and licensing). The main focus areas were: •An audit on the status quo of the resources (human and equipment) of the various traffic management facilities in Limpopo Province, such as provincial and municipal traffic stations, vehicle registration and testing stations, and learner driver testing centres and road safety offices. .Other factors that would impact on the implementation of the PAVE strategy. This included the expansion of the paved road network in the Province, the increase in vehicular traffic, trends in population growth, population by district, the number of schools and learners in the province, and so on. The results of the study were used to develop selected resource indicators for the PAVE Strategy. These indicators are based on traffic function-related data compared with provincial demographic data in terms of kilometres of roads, expansion of the road network, registered vehicles and population. By considering these indicators, the effective implementation of the PAVE strategy and the setting of appropriate service levels for traffic management services will be enhanced.