Solutions must be found for KZN’s traffic problems

THE DA has, for many years, consistently spoken out over the lack of proactive measures to prevent the high number of accidents on KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) major routes, which often bring traffic to a complete standstill for hours.

- RIONA GOKOOL

I recently had the unpleasant experience of sitting in grid-locked traffic for more than five hours while en route to Pietermaritzburg due to a major accident. The hold-up was amplified by delays in Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement and emergency services getting to the scene.

The ramifications of such incidents are numerous, with standstill traffic having severe and negative conse-quences. Not only do the delays cause massive frustration to motorists, but the consequences also ripple through various sectors, leading to increased costs, lost productivity, environmental degradation, and health risks. When KZN’s road users spend hours stuck in traffic, they arrive late to work or miss meetings. The result is reduced labour productivity as employees are less efficient or fail to complete tasks on time. This can impact businesses' bottom lines, particularly in industries that rely on time-sensitive tasks.

Standstill traffic also affects goods transportation. Delivery trucks, logistics companies, and freight carriers cannot meet their schedules, leading to late deliveries, spoilage of perishable goods, and stock shortages. This, in turn, disrupts the supply chain, resulting in lost sales and higher operational costs for businesses. When traffic congestion causes delays in delivery, it can result in businesses being unable to meet consumer demand for products or services. This can negatively affect sales, particularly within sectors that depend on fast delivery times, such as retail or food services.