The Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation in partnership with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched a new Transport Safety Lab (TSL) that intends to reduce road crashes in South Africa.
Road safety is a national epidemic. The Road Accident Fund estimates that the average car crash costs the country around R2.57 million, which over the span of a year tallies up to a R200-billion burden on the nation’s finances.
The new TSL thus aims to solve a critical issue through collecting and analysing data from both real-world situations and simulations, which will then be used to improve transport safety policies and products.
“This dual approach gives the CSIR Transport Safety Lab a unique sweet spot in the industry, merging laboratory precision with practical, on-the-road experimentation,” said Sandile Malinga, CSIR Smart Society Group Executive.
“It will ultimately help reduce fatalities and the socio-economic burden of road crashes.”
How it works
The new TSL consists of two divisions – the Drive Lab and the Simulator Lab.
The Drive Lab gathers live data from South Africa’s roads which enables researchers to analyse signage visibility, road conditions, and driver behaviour patterns under various circumstances.
The Simulator Lab plays a complementary role to the Drive Lab, as it can recreate hazardous driving conditions in a controlled environment and allow researchers to observe how drivers respond to dangers like adverse weather conditions, poor visibility, or challenging road surfaces.
In the future, scenarios for off-road driving and potholes will be added to its list of capabilities.
“By simulating these scenarios without the real-world risks, researchers can gather valuable data on driver behaviour, decision-making processes, and potential improvements in road safety measures,” said CSIR senior researcher Lerato Kgoa.
The lab also boasts experts in the fields of transport safety, human behaviour, and crash analysis, which enables it to complete comprehensive studies.
Malinga explains that the lab’s research supports the UN-endorsed Safe System Approach that South Africa has adopted, where road users, policymakers, transport planners, vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure designers, and road agencies all share the responsibility for improving road safety.
It thus looks at:
- Traffic Engineering
- Road Infrastructure Safety
- Vehicle Safety Technologies
- Human Factors in Road Safety
The TSL will be available to original equipment manufacturers, transport operators, and private investors for testing and refining new products such as vehicles, road restraint systems, and digital technologies.
It will also work with bodies such as the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the Namibia Road Authority to enable evidence-based policymaking.
“The lab’s insights are set to inform regulatory frameworks, support law enforcement strategies, and influence infrastructure development,” said Thulani Dlamini, CEO of the CSIR.
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