By Gert Maritz
Recent public discussion surrounding the installation of speed humps on sections of the Western Bypass has highlighted an issue that affects all road users: how do we improve pedestrian safety without compromising the primary function of a major transport corridor?
As engineers, road authorities, and members of the public, we share a common objective; reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. Every life lost is a tragedy, and any effort to improve safety deserves careful consideration.
The debate, therefore, should not be about whether action is needed, but rather about which interventions will deliver the safest and most sustainable outcomes in the long term.
Having worked in transportation engineering for more than two decades and having completed postgraduate studies in this field, I believe this discussion presents an opportunity to better understand the relationship between road design, human behaviour, and road safety.
The Challenge We Are Trying to Solve
The Western Bypass plays a critical role within Windhoek’s transport network. It was designed to accommodate significant traffic volumes, including freight movement and longer-distance travel, while reducing congestion within the city itself.
Unfortunately, sections of the bypass have also experienced pedestrian accidents and fatalities. This creates a difficult challenge for road authorities. On one hand, there is a need to maintain efficient traffic flow. On the other, there is an obligation to protect vulnerable road users.
The installation of speed humps appears to have been implemented as a response to this challenge, with the objective of reducing vehicle speeds and improving pedestrian safety.
The intention is understandable and commendable. However, the question remains whether speed humps on a high-speed bypass represent the most effective long-term solution.
Understanding Road Function
One of the fundamental principles of transportation engineering is that every road has a specific function.
Residential streets, collector roads, arterials, and highways each serve different purposes and should be designed accordingly.
Speed humps have proven highly effective in environments where low speeds are desirable. Residential neighbourhoods, school zones, parking areas, and local streets are common examples. In these settings, speed humps reinforce the intended function of the road by encouraging cautious driving and creating a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
A bypass, however, serves a different purpose.
Its primary role is to move traffic safely and efficiently over longer distances with minimal interruptions. Drivers naturally develop expectations based on the road environment around them. Wide lanes, long sight distances, and limited access points communicate that a road is intended for higher-speed travel.
When traffic calming measures are introduced into such an environment, the result can sometimes create unintended consequences.
The Importance of Predictability
One of the most important characteristics of a safe road network is predictability.
Road users should be able to anticipate what lies ahead and adjust their behaviour accordingly. When road design and driver expectations are aligned, safety generally improves.
When there is a mismatch between the design of the road and the operational environment, unexpected driver reactions can occur.
This does not necessarily mean that speed humps are inherently unsafe. Rather, it means that their effectiveness depends heavily on the context in which they are used.
On higher-speed roads, sudden braking can increase the risk of rear-end collisions. Traffic queues may form during peak periods, leading to driver frustration and risky overtaking manoeuvres. Emergency vehicles may experience delays, while freight operators and commuters face reduced travel efficiency.
In some cases, these secondary effects can introduce new safety concerns that need to be considered alongside the original problem.
Road safety engineering therefore requires a systems approach that evaluates the entire network rather than a single intervention in isolation.
Addressing the Root Cause
When examining pedestrian fatalities on high-speed roads, it is important to distinguish between the symptom and the underlying cause.
The symptom is often excessive vehicle speed at a crossing point.
The underlying cause, however, is usually the interaction between pedestrians and vehicles within the same space.
International road safety practice increasingly focuses on reducing these conflict points rather than simply managing them.
The reality is that even at reduced speeds, pedestrians remain vulnerable when crossing multiple lanes of traffic. While lower vehicle speeds can reduce injury severity, the safest outcome is achieved when pedestrians and vehicles do not occupy the same space at the same time.
This principle forms the basis of the Safe System approach, which has been adopted in many countries around the world.
The Safe System philosophy recognises that people make mistakes. Rather than expecting perfect behaviour from every driver and pedestrian, infrastructure should be designed to minimise the likelihood and severity of those mistakes.
Alternative Solutions Worth Considering
If the objective is to reduce pedestrian fatalities while preserving the operational function of the bypass, a range of complementary measures may deserve consideration.
Pedestrian bridges and underpasses provide physical separation between people and traffic, eliminating the need to cross busy roads at grade. While these solutions require significant investment, they address the conflict directly.
Strategic pedestrian fencing can discourage unsafe crossing movements and guide pedestrians towards designated crossing facilities.
Improved lighting enhances visibility for both drivers and pedestrians, particularly during early morning and evening periods when many accidents occur.
Public transport infrastructure can also play an important role. Poorly located bus stops often encourage pedestrians to cross roads at unsafe locations. Thoughtful placement of stops and pedestrian routes can reduce this risk significantly.
Education and enforcement remain important components as well. Road users and pedestrians alike must understand the risks associated with crossing high-speed roads and the importance of using designated facilities.
Most importantly, future land-use planning should be closely integrated with transport planning. As cities expand, pedestrian movement patterns should be anticipated and accommodated before safety problems emerge.
A Shared Responsibility
Road safety is rarely solved by a single intervention.
The Roads Authority, local authorities, engineers, law enforcement agencies, transport operators, and the public all play a role in creating safer roads.
It is also important to acknowledge that road authorities often face difficult decisions. They must balance safety, mobility, available funding, public expectations, and practical implementation constraints. Solutions that appear straightforward from the outside are frequently far more complex when viewed from an operational perspective.
For this reason, discussions about road safety should be constructive and collaborative rather than critical.
The current debate surrounding the Western Bypass provides an opportunity to explore whether short-term interventions can evolve into more comprehensive long-term solutions that address the root causes of pedestrian risk.
Looking Ahead
The objective should not simply be to slow vehicles down.
The objective should be to create a transport system where people can move safely and efficiently, whether they are travelling by car, truck, bus, bicycle, or on foot.
The challenge before us is not choosing between mobility and safety. Good engineering seeks to achieve both.
As Namibia continues to invest in transport infrastructure and urban development, adopting a holistic approach to road safety will become increasingly important. By focusing on the underlying causes of accidents and applying evidence-based solutions, we can create roads that are safer, more efficient, and better suited to the needs of future generations.
The conversation around the Western Bypass is therefore not merely about speed humps. It is about how we design transport systems that protect lives while preserving the essential role that strategic road infrastructure plays in supporting economic growth and community development.
That is a discussion worth having.
Gert Maritz Chief Executive Officer at Lithon
