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Introduction

The Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit which was set up in late 1999, is now headed by a Chief Engineer and shouldered by a team of Engineers and Technical Officers. The unit is also composed of a team of statistical officers whose main responsibilities are to collect accident data and build up a reliable accident database for analysis.

Improvement of Road Safety

The Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit has successfully embarked on the Action Plan formulated under the National Road Safety Strategy. This plan sets action to be taken on three fronts, which are Engineering, Education and Publicity Campaigns, within a time frame.

According to the figures for the past five years, there has been a continual improvement of road safety in Mauritius. While a combination of factors could explain this achievement, the Traffic management and Road Safety Unit has, and is, contributing to make our roads even safer.

Our goal is to reduce the number of killed and seriously injured by one third by the year 2010 compared to the average 1996-2000. This target will be achieved with a combination of measures involving the there E’s of Road Safety: Engineering, Education and Enforcement. Two Action Plans have been devised and are being systematically followed.

We are also building up and managing a comprehensive accident database to help in identifying accident problems and ultimately to find their moist appropriate solutions.

Overview of Road Accidents in Mauritius
Facts sheet

Road Safety is characterised by the severity of accidents, and is dependent on many determinant factors, which need to be analysed and interpreted.

Presently, in Mauritius, over the past ten years, the average number of fatal accidents was 153 and serious accidents were 260, yearly. It is however worthwhile to note that the average fatal accidents when taken over the last five years, has decreased to 144 while the average serious accidents have remained almost the same that is 261, yearly. This shows a decreasing trend for the Killed and Serious Injured Accidents.

The Road Accidents rate per 100,000 populations for the year 2004 is ‘12’ as compared with ‘11’ in 2003 and ‘13.5’ in the year 2002.

The Rate of accident per 1,000 registered motor vehicles for the year 2003 and 2004 is ‘0.5’ as compared to ‘0.6’ in the year 2002.

Road Accidents per 10 million vehicle kms, is a new performance indicator introduced in our analyses based on vehicle usage data indicated in the Halcrow Fox report,and is found to be 0.5 for 2003 & 2004 as compared to 0.6 in 2002. This indicator relates road accidents to a measure of exposure to traffic, which is a more logical measure. Accident is in fact directly related to travel; it increases with the distance travelled by vehicles if not kept under control.
An indication by categories of vehicles involved in road accidents in percentage of the total number of KSI accidents for 2004 is given in the charts below:

Road Traffic Act (Amendment) Act 2003

The TMRSU has contributed in the implementation of the Road Traffic legislations. The Road Traffic Act has been amended with a view to providing for more severe penalties for traffic and road safety related offences.  Amendments have been made in the Road Traffic Act to group and update all the safety-related provisions as well as to tightening the law regarding traffic offences as some of the provisions are inadequate to enable the proper guiding and controlling of traffic along our roads.

The main sections which have been amended are as follows:

Ø Lowering the permissible alcohol level in the blood for motorists from 80 to 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

Ø   Introduction of breath test using modern roadside as well as evidential breathalysers.

Ø   Provision of tougher fines coupled with imprisonment for drink driving offences.

Ø   Drivers and Pillion Riders of motorcycles and autocycles should wear securely protective helmets. The number of persons on a motorcycle as well as on an autocycle is now restricted to only two.

Ø   Seats belts are now mandatory to be used in the front as well as in the back seat of a vehicle.

Ø   Careless and inconsiderate cycling as well as cycling under the influence of intoxicating drinks are now sanctioned by law.

Ø   Drivers shall not use hand-held microphone or telephone handset whilst driving.

Ø   Every construction of new roads, traffic centres and in the implementation of new traffic schemes, it is now mandatory to carry out road safety audits and to take appropriate measures to reduce the possibilities of such accidents, when the roads, traffic centers or schemes come into operation.

Implementation of the Speed Limit Review

The National Road Safety Strategy has one of its components the review of existing speed limits on our roads, to make necessary changes and improve the signing of speed limits. Bearing in mind that the Ministry is committed to reduce the annual number of road accidents and injuries by one-third by the end of Year 2010, the speed review aims at striking the right balance between traffic fluidity and road safety.

Speeding is the single most significant factor in road fatalities in Mauritius. It contributes to the likelihood of a crash according and also to the severity of injury from crashes. Speeding is estimated to contribute to 40% of fatalities in Mauritius.

The main objectives of this review were to achieve a speed limit, which is reasonable, apparent, credible and acceptable to the drivers and other road users in general.

The speed limit review was carried out in phases to cover all Motorways and Swami Sivananda Avenue. Roadside interviews were also carried out at various stations.

These recommendations have been approved under the Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Regulations 2004 and the works were implemented in 2005.

New speed limits have been provided on the Motorway M1 and M2, Pamplemousses-Grand Bay (A13) and Swami Sivananda Avenue (B63), i.e.  From Grand Bay to Plaine Magnien. Drivers now have the benefit of driving at the same speed of 90 km/h. Moreover so as not to compromise safety, speed zones of 60 km/h and 40 km/h have been created at Caudan Port-Louis, IVTB Phoenix and Vacoas Market.

This exercise has been extended to regulate driving speed on classified roads A and B.

Table below indicate the new regulations regarding maximum speed limits on our roads for Motorcars.

Agreed Statement of Facts Form “Constat A L’Amiable”

The main objective of the “constat a l’amiable” is to provide a fast-track process for ascertaining liability and paying compensation in the case of certain road accidents resulting only in damage to vehicles involved.

The Bill provides that, in such cases, the drivers may record, on a form, their agreements as to the facts of the accident or the police may record the facts on a form approved by the Commissioner of Police, following which the liability of the respective insurers would be determined by pre-set scales of liabilities. A speedy and informal arbitration process will take care of any dispute between the insurers.

This fast-track process will considerably alleviate the burden on the police who, at present, have to attend to every type of road accident, and will also make it unnecessary for the drivers concerned in the accident to be involved in lengthy and tedious police enquiries. Finally, it will ensure that, in the case under reference, compensation will be promptly paid to eligible vehicle owners.

Since its introduction, the load on the Police has been reduced and their effort are now concentrated on road safety enforcement. The TMRSU has not received any complaint from road users and the public regarding the Form. The TMRSU is represented on the Motor Vehicle Insurance Arbitration Committee.

Specimen of the “agreed statement of facts form” as per road traffic Act No. 36 of 2003.

Road Safety Campaign on Pedestrian Safety

To create a safer road environment, it is essential to carry out Road safety Education to increase awareness among all categories of Road Users.

The main objectives of Road Safety Campaign on Pedestrian Safety are:  

(i)    to reduce the annual road deaths by 30% by 2010
(ii)   to increase level of awareness and understanding of traffic codes for pedestrians on the road.
(iii)  to develop responsible attitudes amongst pedestrians towards their own safety.

In addition to the media Campaign (billboards, radio clips and newspaper adverts), a more active form of intervention was initiated by this office and the Police. Safety lectures\talks were given at schools, colleges and social welfare centres and targeted audience like senior citizens, adults, youngsters and children. Throughout this Campaign, a strong strategic message “Ou Sel Protection, Pran Pliss Precaution” was delivered.  The visuals used reinforced the fact that the pedestrian was most vulnerable on the road.

The Campaign also focused on the need of making oneself visible to vehicular traffic particularly at night and retro-reflectorised Brassards were distributed to the audience as one solution to this problem.

            
Main posters used during the campaign

Road Safety Campaigns for Drivers

Mobile Phone Campaign

Technological development creates new problems. A road safety campaign against the use of mobile phone while driving was launched in April 2004 to sensitize the drivers about the risk of using mobile phones while driving. The publicity campaign was expressed in a single message that one can’t concentrate on two things at the same time.

The campaign was widely covered by the media through Radio Spots, Video Clips and on Bus Backs. Posters and leaflets were also distributed at strategic places such as filling stations, shopping centres, different ministries and NGO.

Posters used during the Mobile Phone Campaign

Drink Driving Campaign

Drink Driving has assumed a new dimension with a lower limit of tolerance of alcohol intake while driving and penalties have been made harsher for drink diving offences. In that context, a drink driving campaign was carried out during the end of year festivities (December 2005), to sensitize the General Public on the danger associated with drink driving and to inform them about the new legislations and penalties.

Drink Drive  poster used during the campaign

Rear Seat Belt Campaign

A road safety campaign on the use of rear seat belt was carried out in October 2005.   The evaluation carried out after the campaign showed that 64% of respondents were aware of them and that 89% are in favour that the Ministry continues in doing safety campaign at national level.

Mobile Traffic Playground

Road Safety Education in primary education is given full support by the TMRSU in view to develop Road Safety Awareness amongst school children. The first cycle visit to the 274 primary schools in Mauritius and 13 in Rodrigues Island has started in January 2004 and ended in July 2005. The targeted age group was those children within the age group 9-12 years that is those in standard IV to Standard VI.

For January 2006, the same Programme is being carried out island wise.

Following consultation with the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research and other parties in the educational sector, Road Safety has been introduced in the curriculum of primary education particularly for those in standards IV and V.

In addition to the regular visits, a Teachers’ Guide, new format Posters and leaflets, and an Activity Book One are under publication and will be distributed to all Head Teachers, Information Technology and Physical Education Personnel, and the pupils of all primary schools.    The activities within the book will help the pupils of 7-9 years old to realize the ever-growing dangers of the road and make use of the traffic signals.

A Power Point Presentation on Road Safety is actually being developed at the TMRSU to inculcate the children in the IT classes (the presentation will be downloaded in all schools computers) 

Artwork of the Road Safety activity Book One

Road Safety Education For Secondary Schools

In 2005, talks on Road Safety were delivered in 30 secondary schools including private and vocational schools situated in the eastern and southern part of the island. The remaining schools are being attended this year. During the presentation, the students are exposed with the following topics:

Ø       The road environment.

Ø       Hazards on our roads.

Ø       Factors contributing to road accidents.

Ø       Some basic statistics regarding fatalities of pedestrians.

A film on road safety was also shown, followed by discussions with the students.

Traffic Light Equipment

The Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit is responsible for the maintenance and setting up of new traffic signal equipments on our roads.

Up to now, we have around 168 sites equipped with traffic lights. These signalized sites are usually of 2 types:

Ø       Pelican type: - Signalized pedestrian crossing 

Ø       Junction type: - T-junctions, Four-arm junctions, Staggered junctions

The TMRSU is now installing LED traffic signal equipments, which, instead of the conventional incandescent and halogen bulbs, use Light Emitting Diodes (LED).

Grand Bay Signalized Junction with LED

Our aim is to gradually phase out the existing traffic signal heads, replacing them with the LED ones, which in the long run, will prove to be more cost effective.

Origin Destination Survey

An Origin-Destination Survey was carried out in 2005. The aim of the survey was to understand the traffic patterns in Port-Louis under all prevailing activities, i.e schools, commercial, work activities, etc. The information that were required by the Ministry were (i) the level of through traffic not entering Port-Louis heading to the South and to the North, (ii) the trip patterns within the boundaries of Port-Louis.

Various methods were designed in order to collect data pertaining to the route choices, trip purposes, journey times, mode preferred, etc of vehicle users. However, the widely used technique which has been adopted for that particular survey was the roadside interview.

Before carrying out the roadside interviews, the study area of Port-Louis was broken down into 19 zones with interview stations located at strategic entries/exits of Port-Louis.

Interview stations S1 (on M2 near Quay D round about), S2 (Nicolay Street on A2), S3 (Pamplemousses Street), S4 (Motorway M1 near Esso Filling Station), S5 (on Port-Louis – St Jean Road near Mammouth) and S6 (Old Moka Road) were located along road lengths found immediate to the preferred junctions with interviews being carried out for both inbound and outbound traffic.

The report submitted by the Consultant can be viewed on the Government Website.

Traffic Management Measures to relief the problem of congestion

The following measures have been taken in order to provide a short-term relief to the problem of congestion:

Port Louis - Use of Grade Separated Junction and New Bus Terminal at Coromandel

Until recently, vehicles using the third lane have to cross the south bound traffic lane to gain access on to Old Moka Road through the slip lane.  North bound vehicles have, therefore, to be stopped for that purpose.  Similarly, vehicles on the third lane have to be stopped at intervals in order to allow for movement of south bound vehicles.  This alternate stop and go pattern results in unnecessary delays which north bound as well as south bound vehicles experience everyday.

In order to relieve this bottleneck situation the following measures have been implemented:

All north bound vehicles using the contra-traffic lane, that is, the third land, should use the grade separated junction instead of using the slip lane ahead in order to gain access on to Old Moka Road.  The access along the motorway onto the grade separated junction will be closed to all traffic.

Only buses will have dedicated priority from the Trunk Road on to the slip lane to join the Old Moka Road.  There is sufficient storage length to cater for these buses for that purpose along the slip lane.  An additional bus lay-by and bus stop has been created along the motorway near Maucob Industry to facilitate passengers to gain access to Bell Village area.

The third lane will be opened as from 07.00 hours instead of 07.30 hours and until 09.30 hours.

The above traffic scheme will mainly reduce delays for south bound traffic.

Together with this scheme, a bus lay-by has been constructed at Coromandel Industrial Estate so that all buses heading towards Port-Louis need not travel to the city centre in order not to cause unnecessary congestion.  A certain number of buses will have, henceforth, their final destination at Coromandel instead of Victoria Terminal.  A set of traffic light has been installed at the Coromandel Industrial Zone to ease ingress and egress of buses to that zone where the lay-by is located.  The number of buses entering the city centre of Port-Louis will then be reduced and thus create less congestion along the A1 Road.

Quatre Bornes - Bus Lay-by at Guy Rozemont Stadium

In order to relieve La Louise junction from unnecessary congestion, the bus stop at La Louise on Candos Road for St Jean bound buses, has been shifted from that location on to a bus lay-by near BDC picture house.

An off-road bus lay-by will also be constructed in front of Guy Rozemont Stadium for St Jean bound buses so as to remove the bottleneck at that locus.

For Vacoas bound buses, the bus stop located at La Louise on Candos road has been transferred onto St Jean Road opposite BDC picture house in a lay-by. 

Curepipe - Additional Lane at D'Epinay Street

An additional lane has been created near the Taxi Stand at D'Epinay Street, Curepipe so that the traffic at that locus is now rendered more fluid. 

Taxi Lane along D'Epinay Street - Curepipe

Traffic Management Measures in Port Louis

Traffic in the Capital has been fludified by the following recent measures:

1.  Road Capacity has been increased at Place D’Armes by the provision of an additional lane towards New Government Centre

2.  The Triangular island which was located in front of the Municipality of Port Louis was removed so as to accommodate an additional turning lane.

3.  The zebra pedestrian crossing which was in front of the New Government Centre has been signalized so that the delay encountered by traffic because of the pedestrian crossing is minimized.

4.  The traffic light at junction Desforges St / Sir William Newton Street has been revised with a new pedestrian phase included.

5.  The traffic flow along Church Street has been reversed in such a way that vehicles emerging from Sir William Newton can now proceed towards Cathedral Church.

The above measures have been implemented in April 2005. At present, it has been observed that gains in the range of 7-10 minutes have been recorded from traffic coming from the South along the Motorway.

A study for a new scheme is in progress for northbound traffic along Farquehar Street and the vicinity of Royal Street.

Traffic Measures to ease traffic flow in Port Louis

Laser Speed Radar

As speeding is considered to be one of the main causes of accident in Mauritius, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport and Shipping has recently procured four hand held laser speed radars for the Police to the tune of Rs 551,600.00 (Five Hundred and Fifty One Thousand and Six Hundred rupees).

This type of radar is more sophisticated than the one which is presently being used by the Police.   It has an additional advantage of being equipped with a Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Detector so that the radar is disabled from operating when RFI is detected.

Posters with regarding to amendments to Road Traffic Act
Road Accidents in Mauritius - Statistics and Analysis
Comparative figures for contravention, speed check, wheel clamp and alcohol test, 2008
Comparative fatal Road Accident for the following period(EXCLUDING RODRIGUES)