South Africa’s plans to regulate the road industry could very well backfire with disastrous results.
This is according to Professor Jan Havenga, head of logistics at the University of Stellenbosch, who said that should the Department of Transport (DoT) go ahead with its plan to regulate the road industry, it needs to invest in solid research to make evidenced-based decisions rather than just acting arbitrarily.
“Regulation, per se, is not wrong. But in order to do that one needs solid research, evidence-based decisions, and consultative planning. The DoT doesn’t have this, but feels the need to do “something”,” he told FTW.
This comes as the DoT is forging ahead with plans to re-regulate the road industry despite widespread criticism. The department has remained adamant that regulation remains the only way of addressing the challenges faced in the road transport sector – including unroadworthy vehicles, overloading and road crashes.
Earlier this year Mihlali Gqada, DoT deputy director of logistics infrastructure and transport freight specialist, told FTW no matter the resistance from industry regulation would go ahead in 2018.
This system would allow the government to know what was being moved, when it was being moved, where it was being moved and by whom.
It is a move that has been questioned by several stakeholders – especially in light of the major successes achieved through selfregulation with the Road Traffic Management System (RTMS).
According to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a reduction of 70% has been seen in crash rates and a weighted average 28.5% reduction in heavy vehicle trips to transport the same freight. Fuel consumption under this programme has been reduced by around 20% while payload efficiency has been dramatically increased.
Havenga says the overarching objectives of any regulation must be to reduce the cost of logistics in South Africa, provide socio-economic access, and mitigate the negative environmental effects of freight.
“If regulation proposals can’t show these advantages in monetary terms it should not be considered,” he said.
It requires careful planning prior to implementation, and the success of it must also be measurable post regulation.
Havenga’s approach to the matter is simple – stay away or do it better. “There could be real benefit in regulation of road, but it depends on which regulations are considered. The “which” is critical.”
INSERT AND CAPTION
There could be real benefit in regulation of road, but it depends on which regulations are considered. – Jan Havenga
