Original Research - Special Collection: Institutional Structures and Processes

Assessment of logistical support for road maintenance to manage road accidents in Vhembe district municipalities

Peter Bikam
Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies | Vol 11, No 3 | a705 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v11i3.705 | © 2019 Peter Bikam | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 18 June 2018 | Published: 04 July 2019

About the author(s)

Peter Bikam, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa

Abstract

This article discusses the problems of logistical support for road maintenance to manage road accidents in Vhembe district municipalities. A budget deficit model was used to explain the level of inadequate logistics support to manage operations and maintenance of municipal roads as a preventative measure against road accident and disaster risks. A hypothetical road maintenance deficit model informed by current literature on road maintenance was used to explain how cost of road maintenance increases exponentially if initial maintenance was not undertaken when the facility was newly constructed to draw the link between road maintenance and the risk of road accidents. Inadequate logistical support to address road maintenance backlogs in Vhembe district municipalities has been on the increase over the last 10 years. Current studies show that inadequate road maintenance can lead to the development of potholes – a major cause of road accidents and damages to motor vehicles. Literature on logistics support emphasises a comprehensive approach to road maintenance to provide a balance between funding, routine maintenance, quality of materials used for maintenance, use of stipulated specifications, the required maintenance technology, innovations and employment of qualified service providers to ensure quality roads and reduction of accidents on municipal roads.


Keywords

Road Maintenance; Local Authorities; Logistics Support; Problems; Roads; Assessment; Maintenance; Manage; Logistical; Support

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