South African road transport requirements for sustainable growth
Doctoral Thesis
2000
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
The assumption that ownership of private motor vehicles as a right is questioned. This thesis is based on the hypothesis that in fact in the case of South Africa this will have many detrimental effects if allowed to continue. It is argued that for sustainable growth, other more attractive options exist. Developments in more developed countries are examined in order to prove that similar conclusions have been reached. The problem investigated in this thesis is therefore the non-sustainability of the continued growth of the private car population in South African urban centres. A literature survey was conducted on what other countries did with their transport problems but the same problem as in South Africa has not been encountered anywhere else in the world. South Africa therefore has a unique situation, which needs to be resolved in a unique way. There is increasing awareness elsewhere in the world that the causes of most of the problems experienced in the transport sector are deficiencies in the efficient operation of markets. Environmental costs are neglected or underestimated in transport prices. As a result, the individual transport user receives distorted price signals. Failure to respect economic principles results in waste, characterised in the transport sector by high accident rates, health problems, negative environmental impacts, financial constraints in the public transport sector and an increase in congestion that persist because users perceive them only indirectly.
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Includes bibliographical references.
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Du Toit, E. 2000. South African road transport requirements for sustainable growth. University of Cape Town.