Would you pay e-tolls for a reduced travel time?
A survey finds that more than half of Gauteng motorists would not pay for e-tolls even if their daily commute time was reduced as a result.
The University of Johannesburg’s Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa) published its ITLS State of Transport Opinion Poll (2013/14), a survey gauging South Africans’ confidence in transport.
The report found that most South Africans believe that education is the highest priority in the country, followed closely by transport and health.
ITLS researcher Rose Luke said: “The top five transport issues are, in order, the quality of roads; the state of public transport; high transport/fuel costs; the lack of sufficient transport services; and taxi related issues.”
This is similar to the 2012/13 results; however, the quality of roads has now been identified as a much higher priority than before, UJ said.
Gauteng respondents identified e-tolling as their single-highest transport priority issue, which was rated as sixth overall.
When asked if they would be willing to pay toll fees if their daily travel time was reduced, 53.2% of Gauteng respondents indicated that they would not, compared to 40% who indicated they would pay.
56% of respondents from the Western Cape were similarly negative about the prospect, with 36% willing to support e-tolling.
Although the other provinces were generally not supportive of e-tolling, they tended towards greater indifference to the issue, UJ said.
Transport, nominated by almost 58% of South Africans in 2013 as a high priority, is also up from 2012 at 47%, indicating a growing concern.
Only 39% of South Africans feel that transport in their local area is better now than a year ago, down from 43% in 2012/13, indicating that respondents perceive a decline in transport in their surrounds.
“Generally speaking, respondents were far less positive about the future of transport in 2013 than they were in 2012,” the report said.
The State of Transport Opinion Poll South Africa (TOPSA) is an annual survey of 1,000 adults aged 18 years and over across South Africa and was conducted between December 2013 and January 2014.
SA National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) implemented e-tolls on Guateng’s freeways on 3 December, 2013.
More on e-tolls
No e-tolls for Cape Town: Sanral
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