Communications, Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications, Botswana
4. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME
The National Road Safety Committee approved the programme in 1985.It was realized at an early stage that BOlSWa-na would not be able to implement the proposed activities on its own. both becauselack of knowledge and thelack of adequatestaff. On top oftha~ we were in the middle of a severe drought and as many domestic resources as poSSIble were being directed to the drought relief programme.
The Swedish Government was consequentlyapproached onceagain, with a request to provide supportfor the implemen-tation of the programme. The request was for a considernbly less comprehensive level than had been proposed by the Swedes in the five-year programme, mainly because of the drought
The first request for supportcovered a two-yearperiod and a subsequent request far continuation covered slightly more
thanone year. Thiswaslaterextendedtobringthetotal up toalmostfour years.Intermsof manpowerand financial inpu~
however, it has not included more than about 50 per cent of what was originally proposed. Consequently, the pace of introducing activities has been slower than was originally proposed.
One of the prerequisites for a successful road safety workis of course to have the necessary organizational tools and the necessary manpower to do the work. This has unfortunately not been the case during most of the four years. The organizational structure, however, has now been approved and the manpower ceiling set This, again, at a much less comprehensive level than was requested.
• Economy
One of the studiesmadeduring the project
was
to describe the economic implications ofroad accidents. This is presented in a separate paper, but it should be emphasized even here that theeconomic burden of fWd accidents on the Botswana societyisby no means negligible. Various surveys made in otherparts oftheworld indicate costs around I per cent of the GNP. InBotswana itwas
found that the cost is closerto 2per cent of the GNP. It goes without saying that considerable resources could be invested in a road safety programme and provide a very high rateof rewrn ifaccidents are reduced.• Vehicle Safety
This is an area in which priorices have been fairly low so far. Only recently have we started the necessary revision of our road traffic legislation to provide the legal framework to introduce mOre efficient vehicle inspection.
The main input through the project hasbeen to:
• ttain 15 vehicle inspectors for employment as examiners,
• ttain 20 traffic police officers in vehicle inspection,
• outline the structure for the vehicle inspection system and the design of vehicle inspection stations,
• propose seleered vehicle safety standards to be introduced in the legislation.
Vehicle inspection training has been provided in cooperation with another SATCC member Stare - Zimbabwe. The new Training Centre in Hararehas undertaken the theoretical training ofboth the inspectors and traffic police officers. This was done in 1987 and 1988. During the 1987 courses the suhsequent practical training was given in Zimbabwe, but the 1988 practical training was given in BolSWal1a Thishad ntany advantages since the Botswana vehicle legislation
was
then really resred in practice.One of the effects of the training was that a number of vague regulations were identified and are now the subject of proposed changes_When the improvement programme was starred in 1985 there were only four qualified vehicle inspectors in theCOlIDlI)'.
Through the project we now have 15 qualified inspectors and feel confident to embark on the introduction of more vigorous inspection procedures.
• Accident Information
When implementation of the Botswana Road Safety Improvement Programme
was
starred in 1985 one of the first subjects to be addressed was the recording of accident information. This was regarded as crucial to be able to gain a better understanding of the accidentpatternand thereby provide a betterbasefor decisions on the allocation of funds in the future.The Botswana Police already had a system for recording accidents., but its main purpose was to have correct information for the handling in courts. Once a yearan annual return repon was produced, which mainly stared the number of accidents, casualties, causes of accidents, etc. For accident analysis, however, it
was
very difficult to use and there was no central register.A computerized teehnique was considered to be the most efficient way of handling information in the future. To develop an entirely new system was found to dentand considerable resources and be very time consuming. It was also found that very few, ifindeed any, such systems exisred which could easily be tailored to suit needsinBotswana - but there was one.
The Transpon andRoadRese:m:hLaborntory (1RRL) in the UKhad developed a microcomputer-based system especially to meet the needs of developing counDies.
This packagehasbeen described on several occasions like seminars, congresses, etc. and is also described in articles. This presentationwill not go into any details of the system as such orthe various parameters it includes. Itwill instead describe how the system
was
integrated inID the Botswana Road Safety Improvement Programme and our experience from using the system.The system was offered ID Botswana together with an offer ID assistwith the adjustment of the computer programmes to suit the needs of Botswana Assistance
was
also offered in tenns of software supponand upgrading as and when the programme packagewas developed In rewrn the TRRL should receive accident information from Botswana.Early in 1986,Dr. BrianHillsfromtheOverseas unit of the TRRL, who developed the package, madethenecessary changes in it and also designed the new accident repon form, together with a projectteam from SweRoad. The new form
was
based on the existing form used by the Botswana Police.During 1986, the system was introduced on a trial basis in the Gaborone Police district This is the district of the capital of Botswana. Approximately 35 per cent of all accidents in the country are recorded in thisdistrict It containsurban, semi-urban, rural and viI1age environments. It
was
consequently considered to be an appropriate test area. Comprehensive training was provided for the investigating police officers and from mid-1986 all accidents in the district were recorded on the new form.During 1987 the testperiod was evalwred and with the experience from the rest a countrywide ttaining programme was launched for all police officers who would have to fiD in the forms. Gradually, in step with the training, the system was
inlroduced throughout the counlry. From mid-1987 all occidents in Botswana have been reIXJrted on the new form and entered into computer flies. Today the system contains information on approximately 10CXX) accidents.
MAAP, Microcomputer Accident Analysis Package, is
user
friendly and very few problems have been encountered in training staff to handle the system.It is a package for recording, storing and analysing accident dara. The following feawres are included:
• production of cross-tabulations;
provides a general overview of the accident problem in a specified region or in the whole counlry.
• graphical analysis;
enables location of the worst occident spots. The location
can
be traced either by nodes. links, coordinates or kilometre posts.• stick diagram analysis;
enables detailed investigation of a groupof accidents.
The accident report form has precoded answers wherever possible. The data can then be entered directly into the microcomputer without being lI'ansferred to a coding sheet.
Basically the reIXJrt form contains information on the following:
• general data on time, place and severity of the accident
• location of the accident and a sketch plan
• particulars of vehicles, vehicle manoeuvres and drivers
• particulars of passengers and pedestrians who have been injured
• infonnation of traffic, weather conditions, road data and location
• general information for usein the courts
Duringthepastsix months it hasbeen possible to start producingreIXJrts and dismbuting infonnation on accident
patterns
to other consumers. This has also been done on a test basis and the intention is to. create a dialogue with different organizations and to get an idea of the type of accident information that is most suitable.TRRL Accident knalysis Package.
(Total number of Casualties on File - 47S1) Fig. S Print-out (rom the TRRL Accident Analysis Package
When some test projects involving reconstruction of hazardous spots inthe road network are carried out later this year. the system will be able to provide some information on changes in accident patterns etc.
Inconclusion it can be said that the MAAPhas provided us with a very efficient tool to gain a bener understanding of the accidentpattern inour counlr)'. This type of information would otherwise have demanded so much in the way of resources that it would probably not have been done.
It mustalsobe remembered that the system does not run without proper supervision and supportInthis connection we must also remember that the Botswana Police has played an irnportlllt role in launching the system.
We canalsoforesee that unless we are able to produce valuable infonnation for other consumers itwillprobably be difficult
tomaintain and justify the system in the future.
• Information
The information programme has been largely run in cooperation with staff from the Danish Road Safety Council. One of their pedagogic experts worked together with ourstaffin Botswana on severnl occasions and two members of our staff have also had on-the-job ttaining in DeI1lTl3Ikand Sweden. .
Unfornmately this is an area where shortage of staff restricts our progress. With only twO officers and attimes Q/lly one atour disposal the potential is limited Nevertheless, a number of campaigns have been designed and a few have already been run. Basically the ideasfor the campaigns have been worked out in Botswana, and the layout and production of the material has been done as on-the-job tIaining in Denmark.
The structure for the design of campaigns and the worldng procedurehasbeen compiled through the project andin the fonn of ttaining. Sometimes we would have liked to obtain more assistance and for longer periods, but in the end we feel confidentthatthe approach,inwhich our staff does much of the work under supervision. is making them more competent and confident for the future.
When you are sober. you are able to detect danger. and avoidit.
Faa sanwa bajalwa, akgana galemaga ka/s;, mmeabaaka kganaga eheme.