Road traffic report 2008-2009

Abstract

Paper presented at the 28th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 6 - 9 July 2009 "Sustainable Transport", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.

Accurate, comprehensive and timely road traffic information is needed on a continuous basis by all role-players within the road traffic management system to plan, schedule and perform their daily tasks; as well as to measure performance and outcomes of road safety promotion programmes and projects. The purpose of this presentation is to provide an update on some of this information and the changes recorded in this regard by the Corporation from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. Amongst others, summarised detail on the motor vehicle and driver populations, the number of fatal road crashes and fatalities, rates and trends; as well as changes in the level of lawlessness are discussed. Some highlights include the following: The number of registered vehicles increased by 211,242 (2,30%) from 9,182,677 on 31 March 2008 to 9,393,919 vehicles on 31 March 2009.The number of vehicles that are un-roadworthy (but licenced) increased by 21,392 (5,68%)from 376,876 vehicles in 2008 to 398,268 vehicles in 2009. The number of driving licences issued increased by 333,497 (4,06%) from ,205,987 at the end of March 2008 to 8,539,484 at the end of March 2009. Over the 12-month period from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 the number of fatal crashes decreased by 1,013 (8,68%) from 11,674 crashes over the same period the previous year to 10,661. The number of road fatalities decreased by 1,006 (6,84%) from 14,713 fatalities over the same period the previous year to 13,707. On a national basis, the overall road traffic offence index increased by 27,84% from an index of 5,28 in 2007 to an index of 6,75 in 2008.