Why e-tolling will never work
Outa has explained in detail how the controversial Gauteng e-tolling system has failed to meet the 8 factors which need to met be for the system to operate successfully.
In its 15,000 word report, Outa extensively outlined the problems facing e-tolls in Gauteng, including referenced points on why the system is geared for failure; international case studies where similar systems had failed; and it provided a 4-point plan for Sanral to effectively dissolve the system.
The report was co-authored by Outa chairman, Wayne Duvenage, and Outa spokesperson and consultant, James Clarke, and has been sent to transport minister Dipuo Peters and chair of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport, Ruth Bhengu.
“This is not a manicured propaganda exercise. It is a serious effort to transcend the mess and find a way out of what we believe is a deep impasse that Sanral executives have led us into,” Duvenage said.
Based on academic literature on intelligent transport systems (ITS), University of Pretoria researchers have identified 8 critical success factors for the implementation of such a system “in any context”.
In its report, Outa outlined how Sanral has not met the criteria with the e-tolling system in Gauteng.
- Public support needs to be extremely high with strong advocates promoting acceptance.
Outa says that the public have shown clear negative sentiment towards the e-tolling system.
Outa derided Sanral’s “meaningless public engagement program”, which ran in 2007 and 2008, along with the company’s lack of transparency, “obvious falsehoods” and “embarrassing PR blunders” which have all chipped away and compounded the lack of trust in the agency.
- Oppositional forces must be weak
Outa noted that, besides itself, the system has been heavily opposed by Cosatu; the SA Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Business Unity SA; the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference; the SA Council of Churches; the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute; the Black Management Forum; the SA Local Government Association; the QuadPara Association of SA; and other civil society organisations.
“Even strong opposition within the governing party was evident,” Outa said.
- Tangible comfort factors must be immediately felt to create confidence.
Outa argued that road users who pay to experience less-congested roads need to see and experience less-congested roads. Citing a study by the Automobile Association (AA), the group noted that this is not the case.
“You need to decide whether to pay Sanral to sit in their traffic or sit in town traffic for free,” the AA concluded.
“Not only are the comfort factors absent, but many e-tag users have become very uncomfortable because of failure by Sanral to reassure them of the security of personal information,” Outa said.
- Alternative public transportation systems should be adequate and reliable.
“This is not the case in Gauteng,” Outa said.
- The pricing systems should be simple and the billing system user friendly.
Referencing wide reports of the e-toll billing mess, along with complaints and “scolding” from President Jacob Zuma and transport minister, Dipuo Peters, Outa says the failing of this criterion is now self-evident.
“The pricing system is so complicated especially for ‘alternative users’ that it has led to the suspicions that this was a deliberate ploy to manipulate users to sign Sanral’s Terms and Conditions and buy an e-tag,” Outa said.
- The soundness of the technology and data needs to be extremely reliable.
Outa reported that Sanral CEO Nazir Alli has admitted that the data base has “let us down”.
“This contradicts his repeated assurances over the past three years that the system was technologically sound and ready for business,” the group said.
- Environmental benefits and costs must be monitored and managed.
A major justification for the cost of intelligent transport systems (ITS) is the positive knock-on effects on the environment (greenhouse gas emissions, combating global warming, etc), Outa said.
The group noted that the waste of paper, and colour printing involved with the billing system (which in itself is full of issues) indicates Sanral is paying simple lip-service on this criterion.
- A single agency with unquestioned legitimacy and authority should be responsible for implementation.
Outa conceded that Sanral was once regarded as a “strong and credible agency”, however, the group now argues that the road company has lost strength in both public perception and in terms of credit rating.
Outa also raised questions on the transparency of operations at the agency, saying that it is “logically perverse” to have a road agency in charge of an ITS.
More on e-tolls
Outa is wrong about e-tag sales: Sanral
Don’t just listen to Sanral, Outa urges MPs
Why e-tolls are unconstitutional
Loading ...