CESA calls for action to improve maintenance, governance and technical capacity of SA’s roads

SOUTH Africa's road infrastructure is the backbone of our economy and vital for the safety and mobility of our people. Yet there's a persistent gap between the engineering expertise we have and the reality of managing and developing our roads effectively.

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Fundamentally, road safety depends on the quality of the roads themselves, says the author.

(by Doctor Ngcobo/Independent Newspapers)

To build safer, more reliable transport systems, we must leverage engineering knowledge, enforce adherence to proper standards and boost institutional capacity across the public sector and change the narrow view that road infrastructure is just what you see in front of you when you drive.

Fundamentally, road safety depends on the quality of the roads themselves, but in the broader picture it should be viewed as a system that includes all the aspects of the infrastructure - fence to fence. Structural integrity, surface strength, proper geometric design, vegetation, signage, the painted lines and the records that are kept on these designs, all shape how safe a road can be.

Neglected vegetation can hide signs or block sightlines, creating dangerous blind spots. Cost-cutting often leads to skimping on crucial signage, road markings and quality materials - compromising safety for short-term savings. Our engineering community, therefore, pushes for strict standards that prioritise safety above all else.

However, while good infrastructure is essential, it's only part of the picture. Driver behaviour plays a critical role that is often underestimated. If infrastructure is not used properly, it does not serve its purpose.