Calculating the benefits of NMT infrastructure

Abstract

Road safety remains a critical challenge in South Africa, with the country ranked as the world’s most dangerous for driving due to low seat belt usage, high alcohol abuse, and a road fatality rate of 26.9 per 100,000 population - well above the global average of 17 (RTMC, 2023; WHO, 2018). In the City of Cape Town, the fatal crash rate is 15.5 per 100,000 residents, with over 50,000 crashes in 2021 costing the economy more than R5.4 billion. This presentation explains and demonstrates a methodology to evaluate the benefits of infrastructure adaptations aimed at enhancing road safety in high-risk areas. Using historical accident data, site surveys, and data analysis, the study identifies crashprone locations within the Cape Town metropolitan area and determines the underlying causes of accidents. Tailored interventions, including cost-effective non-motorised transport (NMT) infrastructure, are proposed based on site-specific needs. An economic cost-benefit analysis is conducted for each intervention, calculating break-even points and potential cost savings over a 20-year horizon. The findings highlight the potential of targeted, low-cost infrastructure improvements to reduce both the economic and human toll of road crashes, offering a scalable approach to improving road safety in South Africa.