Reducing risk on South African roads requires a clear understanding of the operating realities within the freight and logistics sectors.
According to Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association RFA, the issues are deep-rooted and the solutions are not always straightforward.
The contracts we sign with drivers are at the heart of much of the behaviour we see on our roads. There are still companies that pay drivers per load, which encourages them to take risks in order to increase the number of trips they complete, rather than earning a stable minimum salary of R15 000 per month.
Speaking at the recent Transport Forum held at the University of Johannesburg, Kelly said that some of the most severe crashes could be directly linked to the nature of the contracts companies had with their drivers and the type of contract the company itself was trying to fulfil.
Another challenge is one of the weakest processes in the country: we cannot definitively say why crashes happen, he said.
Kelly also pointed to poor compliance among fleet operators. This can be turned around if companies properly cost for compliance and if customers start demanding quality, reliability and above all, safe operations.
It is, however, not only road crashes that have raised concern - security itself remains a major worry.
The RFA Risk Index indicated that, in March, the road freight sector experienced more than 60 criminal incidents per day. There were also over 50 crashes daily. Protest action added to the challenges, with more than 60 incidents recorded per day in March. Other high-risk factors included weather conditions, road infrastructure and activity at border posts, the latter contributing to around 50 risk-related incidents daily.
According to Jannie Jordaan, product manager at Ctrack, risk management in transport has become critical. High accident rates on key routes, equipment failure and human error all pose serious risks. Unpredictable weather, poor road conditions, and crime add to the uncertainty, making the need for proactive, data-driven systems to manage risk essential, he said.
Jordaan noted that real-time safety monitoring and early risk intervention, using predictive models and telemetry, were already making a significant impact. Citing truck engine telemetry as an example, he said failures could be predicted long before they occurred, reducing roadside breakdowns and lowering maintenance costs. In-cab telematics, meanwhile, are improving driver behaviour by monitoring speeding, harsh braking, sharp turns and fatigue indicators, ultimately resulting in fewer crashes.
Telematics are also helping address the crime challenge we face in the country. Sensors and GPS devices can detect tampering and unexpected stops, enabling real-time alerts to security teams, improving cargo safety and reducing theft and insurance losses, he said.
He emphasised that addressing the many risks on South Africas roads required a proactive rather than reactive approach.
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