Use of second-generation road funding models for road safety management in Malaysia

[摘要] Concern regarding road safety has spread across the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This is because lax road safety has resulted in on average 1.3 million deaths and 78.2 million injuries annually at an estimated cost of US$ 518 billion. In fact, it has been forecast that the rates of death and disability due to road accidents may emerge as the third leading contributor to the worldwide burden in 2020. This miserable prediction could be mitigated through enhanced road safety. Unfortunately, several factors seem to impede effective road safety strategies, such as the road safety management (RSM) system itself and insufficient road funding. This thesis is focused on Malaysia to represent the LMIC in order to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of RSM systems based on best practices, as suggested by the World Bank. As such, interviews were carried out to detect inefficiencies in the RSM system and the insufficient amount of funding granted to roads has been examined as a primary factor hindering improved road safety. This thesis proposes a new model of RSM with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the system in Malaysia. The thesis also suggests that the new system be independent and function based on the concept of commercialisation. Additionally, this thesis proposes the employment of the second-generation road fund concept as a sustainable and viable road fund solution. The proposed funding mechanism and the RSM model were assessed alongside selected stakeholders at both the local (Malaysia) and international level. The stakeholders appeared to agree with the notion that road safety in Malaysia needs to be independent in terms of its arrangement and funding for improvement. The stakeholders also agreed that levying charges on road users would provide sustainable and sufficient funding. The study findings show that road users preferred Model 1, which suggests a new RSM arrangement in Malaysia, as this would solve the redundant functions observed in the present arrangement, provide transparency, and reduce bureaucracy. It would also generate rapid progress and work synchronisation. They also supported adopting the commercialisation concept and a second-generation road fund for the new system. The privatisation policy implemented in Malaysia makes this proposed concept applicable and suited to its context. This thesis concludes that second-generation road fund models may be embedded in RSM in an attempt to overcome the existing shortcomings in road safety.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:School of Engineering

[关键词] T Technology;TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)