Date: 17/01/2003
Source: Department of Transport
Title: Omar: Towards a consolidated approach to combat overloading
TOWARDS A CONSOLIDATED APPROACH TO COMBAT OVERLOADING
Overload control of heavy vehicles has been identified as one of the key areas of focus of the Road to Safety 2001 - 2005 strategy of the National Department of Transport. Not only do overloaded vehicles pose an increased safety risk on the road (reduced stability and braking efficiency etc.), but they also accelerate the rate of deterioration of the road network and increase road maintenance costs, which in turn makes many of the roads less safe for travel by other road users. The majority of the heavy vehicles are, however, loaded with legal limits; although loaded to maximum capacity no excessive wear and tear will occur.
In order to address the issue of illegal overloading the Department of Transport, has in conjunction with Provincial Traffic Authorities, the South African National Roads Agency Limited and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), committed itself to the development and implementation of a programme which includes a short term strategy. The programme focuses on intensified law enforcement, review and development of operational procedures and infrastructure management.
The programme calls for the review of the current 5% tolerance allowable on axles, axles units and gross vehicle combination mass as many transporters are using the 5% tolerance (a prosecution guideline) in order to increase the vehicle payload. Other aspects of the strategy include, inter alia: the identification and publication of habitual offenders, the sharing of overloading information to the insurance industry when accessing claims, the extension of the responsibility of overloading to the consignor and consignee, training of public prosecutors and traffic officers on the technical issues relating to overloading, auditing of the current weighbridge infrastructure to promote a coordinated and cost effective overloading control programme and investigating alternate sources of funding.
The strategy, yet in its infant stages in terms of implementation, transport operators will in the near future see a major shake up in terms of policing, overloading fine structure and general overloading tolerance by traffic and road authorities.
The issue of the availability of resources required to implement an effective overload control programme, appears to be a problem, however traffic and road authorities have engaged initiatives with the private sector, which has contributed to a significant impact on overloading control. A total of 2 local authorities, 5 Provincial traffic Departments, the N3TC and TRAC, have already engaged or are in the process of entering into Private Public Partnership initiatives.
The traffic authorities, road authorities and the Road Freight Industry are mindful of the extent of overloading problem and together they are addressing the problem. Substantial progress has been made in curbing overloading in the recent past. KwaZulu-Natal for example has managed to reduce the extent of overloading on the N3 corridor from 16% in 2000 to 10% during 2001. In Gauteng during 2001, 112 98 vehicles were weighed, a total of 7075 vehicles were overloaded and 6392 vehicles were charged. Compared to 2000 almost 100 % more vehicles were weighed in 2001 and 300 % more vehicles were subsequently charged.
In KwaZulu-Natal 147 vehicles were weighed during 2001, 29% (42291) of the vehicles were overloaded and 8% (12 496) of the vehicles were charged. Compared to 2000, a 6% (138367) increase in the number of vehicles were weighed during 2001 and 38% more vehicles were charged. Information for other provinces is currently being collated.
Traffic and road authorities are also cooperating with our neighbouring states to combat overloading, for example as part of a bilateral agreement between Mozambique and South Africa. Six permanently operated centres, and eleven lay bye stations will be erected in South Africa, while in Mozambique, two permanently operated centres and two lay bye stations will be constructed.
Weighbridges on the South African side are already operational.
Transport operators, manufacturers, distributors and all others involved in the movement of goods and services. Brace yourself, if you disregard the law and the safety of our road users, you will be caught, subjected to prosecution by the strong arm of the law. Lets work together and operate within legal limits.
Abdulah M. Omar, MP, Minister of Transport, Republic of South Africa, 17 January 2003
Source: Department of Transport (http://www.transport.gov.za)
Source: Department of Transport
Title: Omar: Towards a consolidated approach to combat overloading
TOWARDS A CONSOLIDATED APPROACH TO COMBAT OVERLOADING
Overload control of heavy vehicles has been identified as one of the key areas of focus of the Road to Safety 2001 - 2005 strategy of the National Department of Transport. Not only do overloaded vehicles pose an increased safety risk on the road (reduced stability and braking efficiency etc.), but they also accelerate the rate of deterioration of the road network and increase road maintenance costs, which in turn makes many of the roads less safe for travel by other road users. The majority of the heavy vehicles are, however, loaded with legal limits; although loaded to maximum capacity no excessive wear and tear will occur.
In order to address the issue of illegal overloading the Department of Transport, has in conjunction with Provincial Traffic Authorities, the South African National Roads Agency Limited and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), committed itself to the development and implementation of a programme which includes a short term strategy. The programme focuses on intensified law enforcement, review and development of operational procedures and infrastructure management.
The programme calls for the review of the current 5% tolerance allowable on axles, axles units and gross vehicle combination mass as many transporters are using the 5% tolerance (a prosecution guideline) in order to increase the vehicle payload. Other aspects of the strategy include, inter alia: the identification and publication of habitual offenders, the sharing of overloading information to the insurance industry when accessing claims, the extension of the responsibility of overloading to the consignor and consignee, training of public prosecutors and traffic officers on the technical issues relating to overloading, auditing of the current weighbridge infrastructure to promote a coordinated and cost effective overloading control programme and investigating alternate sources of funding.
The strategy, yet in its infant stages in terms of implementation, transport operators will in the near future see a major shake up in terms of policing, overloading fine structure and general overloading tolerance by traffic and road authorities.
The issue of the availability of resources required to implement an effective overload control programme, appears to be a problem, however traffic and road authorities have engaged initiatives with the private sector, which has contributed to a significant impact on overloading control. A total of 2 local authorities, 5 Provincial traffic Departments, the N3TC and TRAC, have already engaged or are in the process of entering into Private Public Partnership initiatives.
The traffic authorities, road authorities and the Road Freight Industry are mindful of the extent of overloading problem and together they are addressing the problem. Substantial progress has been made in curbing overloading in the recent past. KwaZulu-Natal for example has managed to reduce the extent of overloading on the N3 corridor from 16% in 2000 to 10% during 2001. In Gauteng during 2001, 112 98 vehicles were weighed, a total of 7075 vehicles were overloaded and 6392 vehicles were charged. Compared to 2000 almost 100 % more vehicles were weighed in 2001 and 300 % more vehicles were subsequently charged.
In KwaZulu-Natal 147 vehicles were weighed during 2001, 29% (42291) of the vehicles were overloaded and 8% (12 496) of the vehicles were charged. Compared to 2000, a 6% (138367) increase in the number of vehicles were weighed during 2001 and 38% more vehicles were charged. Information for other provinces is currently being collated.
Traffic and road authorities are also cooperating with our neighbouring states to combat overloading, for example as part of a bilateral agreement between Mozambique and South Africa. Six permanently operated centres, and eleven lay bye stations will be erected in South Africa, while in Mozambique, two permanently operated centres and two lay bye stations will be constructed.
Weighbridges on the South African side are already operational.
Transport operators, manufacturers, distributors and all others involved in the movement of goods and services. Brace yourself, if you disregard the law and the safety of our road users, you will be caught, subjected to prosecution by the strong arm of the law. Lets work together and operate within legal limits.
Abdulah M. Omar, MP, Minister of Transport, Republic of South Africa, 17 January 2003
Source: Department of Transport (http://www.transport.gov.za)
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