INDUSTRY OBSERVATION

Is it always somebody else’s fault?

I made the observation to a friend the other day that I had not witnessed any road rage or aggressive behaviour among South African road users for some time, be that driving in Cape Town, Johannesburg or in the hinterland. 

Is it my imagination or personal portrayal of less aggression or is there really a more genial relationship among road users? 

It is common knowledge that most truck drivers - especially long distance drivers - are courteous and it is among urban road users where aggression usually raises its head. The reason? Traffic congestion coupled to a distinct lack of patience! 

In any event, the point I wish to make is that road users per se, choose to portray positive or negative behaviour. Like most things, behaviour is a choice. One either chooses good behaviour or poor behaviour. 

We recently experienced an example of this during a recent visit to a local mine where a client has a lot of plant equipment in operation. 

The owner of the plant company hammered home the fact that the mine safety code had a zero tolerance on safety issues and this was unanimously supported by top management. This zero tolerance was also effected, not just verbalised, in other words, it was not a superficial compliance and there was no room for negotiation.

It is rather commendable for management to take this approach and we were all in deep thought coming away from the mine. 

Why is it that every time a mineworker dies, there is a barrage of “enquiries,” usually from none less than the Department of Labour, the Minister of Mineral Affairs and, of course, top mine management? 

My reasoning is that a large number of people led from the top, focus on these incidents and treat each and every accident very seriously. 

In the road transport industry, a fatal accident occurs nearly every day and yet barely a whisper is heard. Innocent people are injured, maimed and killed yet there is never any change to the collective mindset, never mind the consequences. 

As has been well documented, that taking into account all the wasted resources and lives the cost to our economy is astronomical. This is without considering personal suffering and trauma. 

So what can we glean from this? 

1. Without belittling mine labourers, the economic cost of a mine labourer versus a heavy duty truck driver is less. This clearly is not a universal mindset in terms of the powers that be. 

2. Notwithstanding that, the mining industry is probably more dangerous than the transport industry, comparatively real action is taken to prevent accidents and minimise fatalities. 

3. What is paramount is that in the mining industry, whoever has created the framework for this compliance has done so extremely effectively. I agree that this may be a simplistic viewpoint but surely we all have the same concerns here? 

4. Is it not possible to recreate this or a similar framework for road transport? 

If I were running the Department of Transport I would definitely be reviewing and learning what real action is and what it means and I do not think I would have to look any further than the local mining industry.