Omar outlines action plan to address transport inefficiencies

Anna Cox THE DEPARTMENT of Transport has identified several problem areas for closer examination as it drafts a National Freight Logistics Framework to try to address transport inefficiencies (FTW July 26, 2002). Road Infrastructure Ð toll policies to be reviewed In response to the backlog in the provision of necessary road infrastructure and an inability to adequately maintain parts of the existing road system, the department is preparing a comprehensive, nationwide road policy and development plan taking account of the socio-economic environment, national imperatives, policy goals and the needs and perceptions of the road user, said transport minister Dullah Omar at the recent SA Transport Conference in Johannesburg. Action plans would be recommended for addressing urgent priority areas that deleteriously affect the movement of people and goods, including the removal of critical bottlenecks, a review of toll road policies and their impact on poorer communities and appropriate user charges for road hauliers, said Omar. Policing of road haulage Ð construction of control centres underway Overloading by some freight operators resulting in premature damage to the road system was still a problem, said Omar. A joint national/provincial programme of construction of traffic control centres including weigh stations on major roads and subsidiary weigh stations with portable equipment on the alternative roads in the main freight corridors was underway, he said. ÒIn addition, 10 measures have been prioritised including extended accountability, elimination of the 5% tolerance, legislation of portable equipment, information sharing, heavier fees and penalties, dealing with habitual offences, and extension of responsibility for overloading to the consignor and consignee. Review of traffic control centres, infrastructure and operational procedures, training, and the denial of short-term insurance for vehicles which are overloaded are also being considered. ÒPrivate sector involvement is being mobilised. The Road Traffic Management Corporation is now being established to provide an improved mechanism to make enforcement more effective,Ó said Omar. Liberalisation of air services on the cards Air access to South Africa in support of tourism and trade South Africa is implementing a policy aimed at the liberalisation of international air services, said Omar. The main principles of this policy are to encourage effective competition to safeguard, where necessary, national interests and to encourage South African participation in the market. The department has developed an integrated strategy that acknowledges the role of transport in general as the catalyst for economic development and identified air transport and tourism as the twin pillars for sustainable socio economic transformation.