ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Annually a number of fatal accidents occur at level crossings in South Africa. It is
assumed that these kinds of accidents could be avoided if the road and rail systems and
intersections are managed properly. This final year project evaluates railway safety by
observing the current condition of level crossings in the Western Cape.
The goal of this study is to identify contributing factors that increase the likelihood of an
injury occurring in a collision between a vehicle and a train. Once the factors have been
identified plans of action can be developed to strive to decrease level crossing collisions
from occurring. This could save numerous lives and lots of money.
The research problem at hand is to try and determine why this class of accidents occur
and to indicate how management can be improved to reduce the number of incidents
annually. Accident data was collected from the Western Cape area between the period
1999 and 2010. A correlation study was performed on the different contributing
variables. Logistical regression was used with the occurrence of an injury set as
dependent variable. Variables that influence the occurrence of an injury was identified as
day of the week, time of the day, good visibility, type of road and type of vehicle.
Stellenbosch’s biggest level crossing was evaluated against the South African Traffic
Road Signs Manual (Brain, 1999). It was found that the level crossing met the standards
that were set by the South African Department of Transport. Then a case study of one
accident was done to determine the reason for the accident. Driver error was found to be
the main cause of the accident.
A survey study was done to determine whether people are making errors due to lack of
knowledge. The study indicated that people do not know what to do at level crossings.
Furthermore it was found that the South African driving test is out-dated and failing at
educating drivers.
The recommendation at hand is to restructure South Africa’s driver tests. A new more
advanced test should be developed. Proper driver education is necessary to increase
safety at level crossings. The interim solution would be to put up traffic lights at level
crossings.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is jaarliks 'n aantal noodlottige ongelukke wat by spoorwegkruisings in Suid-Afrika
voorkom. Daar word aanvaar dat hierdie soort van ongelukke voorkom kan word indien die
pad en spoor stelsels en kruisings behoorlik bestuur word. Hierdie finale jaar projek evalueer
spoorweg veiligheid deur na die huidige spooroorgang toestand van die Wes-Kaap te kyk.
Die doel van hierdie studie is om bydraende faktore wat die waarskynlikheid van 'n besering
wat tydens ‘n botsing tussen ‘n voertuig en trein opgedoen word verhoog, te identifiseer.
Wanneer die faktore geïdentifiseer is moet ‘n oplossing ontwikkel word wat streef om
spooroorgang botsings te voorkom. Die oplossing sal baie lewens red en baie geld spaar.
Die navorsings probleem ter sprake is om te bepaal waarom hierdie klas van ongelukke nog
voorkom en om te bepaal hoe die bestuur van hierdie stelsels verbeter kan word om die
aantal voorvalle jaarliks te verminder. Ongelukdata is versamel in die Wes-Kaap vir die
tydperk tussen 1999 en 2010. 'n Korrelasie studie is uitgevoer op die verskillende
veranderlikes. Logistieke regressie is hierna toegepas, met die voorkoms van 'n besering as
afhanklike veranderlike. Veranderlikes wat 'n invloed op die voorkoms van 'n besering het is
geïdentifiseer as die dag van die week, die tyd van die dag, goeie sigbaarheid, die tipe pad
en tipe voertuig.
Stellenbosch se grootste spooroorgang was teen die “South African Traffic Road Signs
Manual (Brain, 1999)“ geëvalueer. Daar is gevind dat die spooroorgang aan die huidige
standaarde wat deur die Departement van Vervoer van Suid Afrika neergele is voldoen. Toe
is 'n gevallestudie van 'n ongeluk by hierdie spooroorgang gedoen. Bestuurders foute is
bevind dat die hoofoorsaak van ongelukke.
'n Opname studie is gedoen om te bepaal of mense foute maak as gevolg van ‘n gebrek aan
kennis. Die studie het aangedui dat mense nie weet wat om te doen by spooroorgange nie.
Verder is gevind dat die Suid-Afrikaanse bestuurders toets is verouderd en faal daarin om
bestuurders op te voed.
Aanbevelings is om Suid-Afrika se bestuurder toetse te herstruktureer. 'n Nuwe, meer
gevorderde toets moet ontwikkel word. Behoorlike bestuurder opleiding en opvoeding is
nodig om veiligheid te verhoog by spooroorgange.
