Interventions to improve freight vehicle road safety in eThekwini municipality

Abstract

The eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) is currently developing and pursuing a heavy vehicle safety intervention strategy in order to reduce heavy freight vehicle crashes. The current challenge the eThekwini Municipality faces is unsafe roads due to unroadworthy heavy vehicles, fatigued drivers, reckless driving, speeding, and a disregard of road rules. Currently the strategy includes two main elements: enhancing the capacity of police officers by providing them with technical knowledge regarding the operation of heavy vehicles; and Educating the freight industry towards becoming a safer road user that will lessen the burden on the authorities.