Limpopo provincial roads safety assessments 2021 to 2023 : implementation of selected findings

Abstract

The Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) commissioned the JG Afrika-Aphane Joint Venture to undertake Network Level Road Safety Assessments (NLRSAs) as part of a three-year programme to enhance the Limpopo Province’s Road Asset Management System (RAMS). The project assessed the paved strategic network across all five district municipalities of Limpopo, using procedures established in the South African Road Safety Manual (COLTO, 1999). The objective was to identify and categorise hazardous road segments based on safety indices derived from visual inspections and structured rating criteria, supporting the integration of a new Road Safety Management System (RSMS) module into the RAMS framework. The study used a colour-coded safety rating system to assess roads, revealing that 71% were in fair condition, 25% in poor condition, and only 4% in good condition. Key issues identified included poor road conditions, inadequate roadside furniture, faded markings, damaged signage, poor access control, and overgrown vegetation that hinder visibility and safety. Urgent maintenance is needed in high-risk, pedestrian-heavy areas. The province seeks to utilise a data-driven maintenance and safety planning through integrated systems to reduce accident risks and enhance road user safety, providing a scalable model for other road agencies