AN INTEGRATED PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR SEKHUKHUNE

Transcription

1 AN INTEGRATED PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR SEKHUKHUNE Steve B Mhlala P O Bx 898, Lebwakgm, / / , Fax: mhlalas@drt.limpp.gv.za ABSTRACT THE NEED FOR THE PAPER The Need fr an Integrated Pedestrian Management Mdel (IPMM) fr the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) The purpse f this research was t develp an Integrated Pedestrian Management Mdel (IPMM) fr the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) in the Limpp Prvince t prmte pedestrian safety. Infrmatin btained frm a number f surces such as the Department f Transprt, CSIR, NIMSS and MRC, the Rads and Transprt Department f the Limpp Prvince, and the SDM, all pinted t the pedestrian fatality prblem in Suth Africa, in the Limpp Prvince and als in the SDM. The rad safety plicies, strategies, prgrammes, manuals and pedestrian plans f the Department f Transprt, Limpp Prvince and SDM were taken as the pint f departure in this study. Lcal studies cnducted by the CSIR indicated that there is a need t develp the IPMM fr the SDM t address the pedestrian casualties. The pedestrian casualty statistics cllected in the SDM was als used as surces t prve the extent f the pedestrian casualties. Other dcuments that high lighted the pedestrian safety prblem were the Limpp in Mtin Strategy; the Rad Traffic Management Strategy fr Limpp Prvince; the Pedestrian Safety Management Plan and Imprvement Plan fr the Dilkng Crridr at Tubatse and the Integrated Transprt Plan (ITP) 2004 fr SDM. Prblem Statement Pedestrian casualties (fatalities and injuries) cmprise a majr part f rad casualties in Suth Africa and als particularly in the SDM. By reducing pedestrian casualties, a majr part f the rad safety prblem can be slved. Interventins shuld be implemented at district and lcal municipal levels t achieve this bjective. Hypthesis An Integrated Pedestrian Management Mdel is urgently required t imprve the pr pedestrian safety recrds f the Sekhukhune District Municipality. Due t the underdevelpment f the district and inadequate crdinatin service delivery by all the relevant rle-players there is n hlistic integrated apprach t reslve the prblem. Gals and Sub-gals A number f gals and sub-gals have been frmulated t reslve the prblem: They are: Gals T develp a Pedestrian Management Mdel fr Sekhukhune t reduce pedestrian casualties and prmte pedestrian safety. T create a mre user-friendly envirnment fr pedestrians, as envisaged in the Sekhukhune ITP. Sub-gals T imprve the institutinal structure t imprve pedestrian safety. T imprve pedestrian facilities n the rads. Prceedings f the 28 th Suthern African Transprt Cnference (SATC 2009) 6 9 July 2009 ISBN Number: Pretria, Suth Africa Prduced by: Dcument Transfrmatin Technlgies cc Cnference rganised by: Cnference Planners

2 T imprve the rad safety educatin f the ppulatin (cmmunities), schlchildren, rural adults and the cmmunity at large. T imprve law enfrcement, emergency services t cater fr pedestrian accidents. T imprve accident infrmatin systems t mnitr and evaluate. T imprve the cmmunity level f participatin. T imprve data cllectin and recrd keeping. T imprve rad safety research (include pedestrian safety research). The IPMM will use rad traffic disciplines, such as engineering measures, traffic law enfrcement, educatin, infrmatin technlgy and lgistics and ther functinal areas t address rad envirnment, rad user and vehicle prblems in the SDM. Research Methdlgy Quantitative and qualitative research methdlgies were applied in this study. Quantitative research methds such as pedestrian casualty statistics were btained frm the Rad Traffic Management Crpratin (RTMC), the Natinal Injury Surveillance System, the Medical Research Cuncil (MRC) and the Pedestrian Safety Management Plan t prve the pint that there is indeed a majr prblem regarding pedestrian fatalities at the natinal, prvincial and lcal levels. In this study, pedestrian fatality statistics are used in the develpment f an IPMM fr the Sekhukhune area. Furthermre, Qualitative research methds fcusing n literature studies and expert interviews were als emplyed as part f the study. Varius relevant gvernment plicies, studies and ther relevant literature as listed in the thesis were studied. The researcher visited and interviewed varius experts wh have specialized knwledge and experience abut pedestrian safety in the cuntry. Experts were interviewed n pedestrian safety prblems, in particular n pedestrian fatalities, and a need t develp an IPMM fr the Sekhukhune area. These interviews included principals and teachers f twelve schls; cmmunity leaders (SANCO). Hawkers alng the D1547 between Jane Furse and Sehlakwane and Mtetema rad were als visited and interviewed. THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TMS) Intrductin The purpse f this sectin is t cntextualize the utcme f the research in relatin t the pedestrian units in the rad envirnment. The TMS as a subsystem f the transprtatin system is discussed. The TMS cncept, is regarded as a management system. The TMS will play an imprtant rle in reducing pedestrian casualties thrugh the IPMM in the SDM. The cmpnents f the TMS, the rle f the traffic manager, disciplines and functinal areas are discussed as tls t reduce pedestrian casualties in the SDM. The purpse f this sectin is t demnstrate, practically, the applicatin f system technlgy; explain the rle that pedestrians, as rad users, and rle-players, such as traffic law enfrcers (traffic plice), engineers, etc. play in relatin t rad and traffic elements in the traffic system. This sectin als lays the fundatin fr a study t identify and manage the factrs that cntribute t rad user frustratins. Traffic Management System (TMS) The TMS cnsists f three cnjining wrds, namely system, management and traffic. The traffic system frms a definite cmpnent (sub-system) f the entire transprtatin system. T ensure rderly rad traffic and traffic safety, the traffic system must be managed by experts in the field f rad traffic safety. The TMS is the management tl f the IPMM t manage the rad envirnment, pedestrians, drivers and vehicles in the traffic system. The theretical view f the TMS is discussed as well as the practical (implementatin) part. The TMS is a system that is defined as: a cllectin f distinctive elements that are mutually exclusive, that is relevant t each ther and is cntrlled/regulated t achieve a cmmn purpse.

3 Cmpnents f Traffic Management System (TMS) The traffic management system cnsists f three cmpnents, namely: A psychical cmpnent (rad users with driver s licenses; rad users withut drivers licenses; unprtected rad users such as pedestrians, and rad sectins); A unit cmpnent (such as rad envirnment units, pedestrian units, driver units and vehicle units); and A management cmpnent is supprted by a number f disciplines, functinal areas, plicy standpints and sub management systems such as engineering, traffic law enfrcement, educatin, and s n. An rganisatinal structure can be regarded as a furth cmpnent. The cmpnents are addressed hlistically in the study. AN INTEGRATED PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT MODEL (IPMM) FOR SEKHUKHUNE Intrductin The diagram belw illustrates the six elements f an IPMM that shuld be cnsidered, namely the walking mde, gvernment interventins, cntrl unit, mnitring unit, research unit and utcme unit. It illustrates hw the IPMM can be implemented in the SDM t reduce pedestrian casualties. Hspital? PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT MODEL Wheel chair? Graveyard? Units have t use the rad envirnment (pedestrians, drivers and vehicles) Rules f the rad Legislatin fr pedestrians Legislatin fr drivers Start Hme A N Mde B Natinal: Transprt Plicy, 1996, Strategies (DT) RSS and Strategic Plan fr Rad Safety 2006, Arive Alive, RTMC Prvincial: Rad Traffic Management Strategy, Pedestrian Safety Management Plan and Rad Safety Imprvement Plan fr the Limpp Prvince (CSIR) District: Integrated Transprt Plan (ITP) Walk frm A t B Disciplines Functinal areas PEDESTRIAN UNIT Traffic manager CONTROL OF UNITS Pedestrian self-cntrl Quality cntrl mdels Operatinal cntrl (ex: Plicing) Analytical cntrl (Research)

4 The six elements (cmpnents) f the IPMM in mre detail are: Walking mde: The main mde f travel fr peple wh regularly travel t wrk, by prvince and settlement type, and shws that 48,3% f the peple in the Limpp Prvince are walking t wrk. This implies that, in the SDM, mre than 50% f the peple are walking. Therefre, the main mde f transprt is walking. ITP 2004 indicates that there is n fficial transprt system fr learners in the SDM. Gvernment interventins: Gvernment interventins include gvernment plicies, prgrammes, manuals, legislatins, strategies and ther literature materials relevant pertaining t pedestrian casualties. The interventins will indicate hw they will supprt the IPMM fr Sekhukhune t reslve the pedestrian casualty prblem. Cntrl unit: The rle f the Cntrl Unit is t implement the IPMM in the SDM t address pedestrian casualties. The cntrl mdel shuld be managed by the Prvincial Management Steering Cmmittee (PMSC), including the traffic safety manager, t chair, facilitate and achieve ther bjectives. The Sekhukhune Rad Safety Steering Cmmittee (SRSSC) and a Pedestrian Safety Steering Cmmittee (PSSC) r Pedestrian Management Cmmittee (PMC) will be frmed fr c-rdinatin r t drive the implementatin f the IPMM in the SDM. Mnitring unit: The Pedestrian Safety Management Steering Cmmittee (PSMSC) will mnitr the implementatin f the cntrl measures/disciplines in the functinal areas such as the engineering measures, traffic law enfrcement, cmmunity educatin and cmmunicatin, and infrmatin technlgy. It will mnitr the success and failures f the identified prjects. If there are failures, the Steering Cmmittee will seek ther methds which will ensure success. Research unit: In rder t determine cunter-measures fr accidents it is necessary that research takes place, and statisticians therefre play a prminent rle in analysing accident data and infrmatin. Research, develpment and implementatin are imprtant key factrs in research. If the mdel is nt prducing the expected results, there shuld be further research t find ther methds that can prduce gd results. The aim is t research new methds if an IPMM is nt really instrumental in reducing pedestrian casualties in the SDM. Outcmes unit: Varius utcmes will be achieved such as fewer pedestrian injuries in hspitals, the mdel will reduce the wrklad f the Department f Health, wh has t take care f the injured pedestrians: Fewer disabled pedestrians: Fewer pedestrian fatalities: MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY Sme f the mre imprtant findings f the study were: Lack f and pr quality pedestrian statistics in the SDM There is n access t pedestrian statistics at the district municipal level. Pedestrian casualties are ccurring but the system f capturing nly perates at the prvincial level. All SAPS statins cllect the statistics but they are nt reliable. The cllectin f statistics n pedestrian casualties is inadequate. The SAP 176 register and AR frms are prly cmpleted. The plice d nt cnsider the AR frm as imprtant. Lack f integratin effrts in the SDM There is a lack f integratin effrts: pedestrian casualty infrmatin in the SDM is prly cllected. All the rle-players are wrking sl and nt as a team, e.g. the traffic plice, SAPS, EMS, educatin department, cmmunity structures, etc. There is limited rad safety educatin in the schls and in the cmmunity and this is a challenge in the SDM.

5 Lack f develpment in the SDM especially pedestrian infrastructure facilities There is a general lack f infrastructure and, specifically, fr pedestrians in the rad envirnment. The lack f pedestrian facilities is ne f the causes f pedestrian casualties. Underdevelpment and pverty in the area have led t the prclamatin f the SDM as a presidential nde. Lack f fcus n pedestrian safety in the SDM There is lack f fcus n pedestrian safety in the area. There is n cmprehensive awareness and educatin in the SDM prgrammes. There is n prper engineering, law enfrcement, cmmunicatin r cmmittees lking after pedestrian safety. N pedestrian management plan r peratinal mdel exists t reduce pedestrian casualties in the SDM area. There are n pedestrian casualty statistics available fr the SDM. Lack f prper adjudicatin f pedestrian-related ffences The adjudicatin f pedestrian-related ffences is inadequately handled by the magistrate curts. There is nly limited law enfrcement in relatin t pedestrians (plicing f rads fr speeding, alchl, ther ffences, etc). The Natinal Rad Traffic Act cntains a list f pedestrian ffences, but these are nt enfrced by the law enfrcers (traffic plice and SAPS). Emergency services are limited and respnding time (Glden Hur rule) is unsatisfactry because f a lack f ambulances, insufficient equipment, etc. A lack f crdinatin and cperatin between all the rle-players is a majr prblem. The high pverty level in the area als plays a part in pedestrian casualties. There are als prblems with the identificatin f the ffenders. All these are sme f the majr challenges related t pedestrian safety in the SDM. CONCLUSIONS BASED ON THE TMS The mre imprtant cnclusins f the study are: Lack f integratin f infrmatin and functins The lack f integratin f infrmatin and functins requires the applicatin f an IPMM t achieve the gal. The integratin apprach is favured. Pedestrian management cmmittees at the prvincial and district/lcal levels shuld be established by the rleplayers t crdinate r t drive the implementatin f the IPMM in the SDM s that the pedestrian casualty prblem can be slved. The TMS as a subsystem f the transprtatin system and as a management mde will reduce pedestrian casualties in the SDM thrugh the regulatin, cntrl and management f all the units. The units, such as the rad users and the rad envirnment, under the three cmpnents f the TMS, such as physical unit and management, are addressed in an integrated and hlistically manner in rad traffic systems. The six elements f the IPMM, such as the walking mde, gvernment interventins, cntrl unit, mnitring unit, research unit and utcme unit were established t manage pedestrian casualties in the IPMM. The IPMM will be beneficial t the SDM because f the fllwing: It will slve the pedestrian casualty prblem. The multidisciplinary apprach, such as disciplines, functinal areas and thers will be applied t prmte pedestrian safety. The prvincial, district and lcal pedestrian cmmittees, will manage, cntrl, crdinate, mnitr r drive the implementatin f the IPMM in the SDM t reduce pedestrian casualties. It will fcus n law enfrcement, educatin and engineering measures. It will enfrce the law against rad traffic ffenders bth drivers and pedestrians. It will prvide rad educatin t children and adults in the SDM. It will prvide pedestrian facilities acrss and alngside rads thrugh engineering. It will prvide an accurate infrmatin recrding system fr pedestrian casualties.

6 The pedestrian casualties will be prperly investigated and recrded. The prblem f prly cmpleted accident reprt frms (AR Frms) at plice statins will be slved. It will prvide accurate traffic infrmatin n pedestrian vlumes alngside rads and n rads (pedestrians crssing). Pedestrian high-risk areas will be identified, cunts cnducted and the necessary measures taken. It will assist in fast tracking develpment, since the SDM was declared a presidential nde. The pedestrian facilities will be develped thrugh the implementatin f the IPMM. It will identify the need fr adequate infrastructure and the lcatin theref. The IPMM will identify rad safety infrastructure, such as ftbridges, ftways, rad crssings, etc. that need t be prvided at high-risk accident lcatins. The IPMM will assist the SDM t bring abut sci-ecnmic changes such as: Pverty alleviatin thrugh the establishment f jb pprtunities in the rad envirnment. Jb creatin in the cnstructin f pedestrian infrastructure, e.g. sidewalks, fences, pedestrian ftbridges, pedestrian crssings. THE WAY FORWARD The recmmendatins cntained in this sectin have the bjective t prvide the basic framewrk fr the IPMM. Getting the basics right This dissertatin has cmprehensively entertained the cncept f the IPMM and the benefits it culd have fr the SDM in rder t prmte pedestrian safety. T make the IPMM a wrking tl, it is recmmended that certain specific basic actins be implemented such as: Imprve the infrmatin systems in the SDM Imprve accident recrding and statistics Crdinatin f pedestrian infrastructure n rads and land use planning, e.g. be sensitive t prvide pedestrian facilities at shps, schls, etc. Align the IPMM with rles f ther gvernment institutins such as the DPLG, Departments f Public Wrks, Health and Educatin, the SAPS and Traffic Department. Integrate the IPMM with ther gvernment initiatives in the SDM such as the Extended Public Wrks Prgramme (EPWP), the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), and ther DPLG funding mechanisms. Integrated apprach t implement an IPPM in the SDM as a blueprint fr the rest f the Limpp Prvince The steering cmmittee shuld define thrugh its missin and visin what it wants t achieve with regard t pedestrian safety in the SDM: Visin: T reduce pedestrian casualties in the SDM by half in the next five years. Missin: T get all disciplines t cllabrate thrugh an integrated apprach t reduce pedestrian casualties in the SDM. Specific structures need t be established t implement the IPMM in the SDM. This will include the fllwing: Prvincial steering cmmittee t versee the implementatin f the IPMM in the SDM but als in the ther district municipalities ver the next cuple f years. District wrking cmmittee (SDM) t implement the IPMM in the SDM thrugh the crdinatin f the different rle-players and functins. This includes the identificatin f the specific prblem areas, the infrmatin required t slve the prblems, and the rles f each rle-player, including lcal mnitrs in the cmmunity wh wuld identify the rad safety prblems in their cmmunities, e.g. hazardus lcatins, speeding, alchl abuse.

7 Furthermre, the rles and functins f the IPMM be clearly defined, e.g. The rle f the IPMM is t imprve the safety f all rad users, but in particular pedestrians. All disciplines (engineering, educatin, enfrcement, justice, emergency services, adjudicatin f ffences) will need t wrk tgether in a crdinated manner t reduce pedestrian casualties in the SDM. The functin and cntributin f each discipline participating in the IPMM will be clearly defined such as: Engineering t imprve the rad envirnment s that pedestrians will be safer. Educatin t educate schl-children and adult pedestrians n rad safety practices. Enfrcement t enfrce the traffic laws s that traffic ffences and, subsequently, pedestrian casualties culd be reduced. Emergency medical services t ensure that adequate emergency services are available and deplyed thrughut the SDM s that rad victims can be transferred t hspitals as sn as pssible after the accident. Adjudicatin f ffences t ensure that traffic ffences are prperly and speedily adjudicated. BIBLIOGRAPY Btes, G and Pretrius, H.B 1994.The rle f the human element with the traffic safety management system and the need fr rad user s frum. Pretria. Department van Verver.Jaarlike Ververweseknvensie Veiligheidsessie 4A Department f Transprt White Paper n Natinal Transprt Plicy Department f Transprt Rad t Safety Strategy, , Ministry f Transprt, RSA, Pretria Department f Transprt. Pedestrian Safety Manual, Arrive Alive Department f Transprt Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Guidelines. Engineering Manual t Plan and Design Safe Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities, RSA, Pretria Limpp Department f Transprt Pedestrian Safety Management Plan fr the Limpp Prvince. CSIR, Pretria Limpp Department f Transprt Tender PUDP 8, First Integrated Transprt Plan fr the Sekhukhune District Municipality. Final Reprt, Octber 2004 Rad Traffic Management Crpratin Arrive Alive: Rad traffic and fatal crash statistics, , June 2005.