‘Benefits of tolling need to be considered’

What is missing from most commentary on the Gauteng freeway tolling scheme is any real understanding of its benefits. Its main benefit will be to reduce congestion. By reducing congestion the freeway improvement scheme will oil the wheels of the Gauteng economy; and the Gauteng economy is the big ‘engine room’ of job creation in South Africa. Congestion on the freeways is like sand in a truck’s engine – it is not good for performance! The effect of not having this toll-managed freeway system would be like putting sand instead of oil in the engine of the Gauteng economy – growth would be slower, the costs of doing business would ultimately be higher and, eventually, the creation of decent, sustainable jobs would be drastically retarded. Of course the financial cost to users will be higher with tolling than without it, but consider the following: With tolling, the freeways will remain in a relatively free-flow condition for much longer than if the roads were funded entirely from Government and made free at the point of use. With tolling, businesses in Gauteng will be able to undertake many more freight distribution trips per week than in a congested scenario. Over the years, the additional business done will far exceed the extra costs paid for almost all firms. With tolling, commuters will get to work more quickly and in a less stressed condition than without tolling. With tolling, all employees will be able to access a wider range of potential employment opportunities within a given commuting time. And employers will be able to attract employees from a wider catchment area and hence have the chance of improved quality of staff. Yes, we will be paying more for freeway use. But we will be getting good value for the money we will be paying. We will be getting one of the best regional freeway systems in the world, and with the prospect of it being properly maintained long into the future. We will be getting a more efficiently functioning regional economy. We will be getting higher economic growth. We will be getting more employment creation. The current ‘free at the point of use’ system comes at a very high economic cost. ‘Free’ roads breed congestion; free roads slow up freight delivery; ‘free’ roads get people to work late; ‘free’ roads reduce economic growth and they slow employment creation. ‘Free’ roads will take us back to intolerable levels of congestion in Gauteng faster than anyone can say Sbu!