South Africa's first national travel survey : 2003

Abstract

Paper presented at the 22nd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 14 - 16 July 2003 "National issues affecting the movement of people and goods - strategic approaches", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. This keynote address describes a watershed event in land transport in South Africa, namely the first National Travel Survey (NTS). The purpose of the survey is outlined in the paper and the research leading up to the decision to go ahead with the NTS is described. The National Travel Survey is the culmination of many years of background research and two extensive feasibility studies. The objectives of the survey are described in detail and an indication is provided as to how the results will be used by national and provincial government for policy monitoring and in reviewing the implementation of national transport policy. Fieldwork was undertaken by Statistics South Africa and completed in June 2003. The survey comprises a sample of 50 000 households which will be representative of the population of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) as a whole and of its 9 provinces and 242 municipalities. During the latter half of 2003 the data will be captured and verified. The results will be verified and will be made available nationally in mid 2004. A description of the sample and the spatial extent of the survey are provided in the paper. Examples of the use of National Travel Survey information are included in both the paper and the presentation.