Feature
Vulnerable Road Users on Rural Highways: A South African Perspective
Steven Robertson Pr. Eng., Project Manager, South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL), South Africa. Member of Technical Committee C.2 - Design and Operation of Safer Road Infrastructure of the World Road Association
Available publications, guidelines and manuals on road safety tend to relate to Vulnerable Road Users in the context of high income or developed countries (HICs). However, the factors affecting road safety in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) does not always align with the experience in HICs. These factors may include the standard of road infrastructure, general maintenance practices, availability of different transport modes, law enforcement and general road user behaviour. This article highlights road safety challenges from a South African perspective, with a specific focus on vulnerable road users.