Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit
Who we are?
The Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit (TMRSU) is responsible for ensuring that the road system efficiently meets the economic needs of the country and is safe for all road users.
The organization's technical cadre is composed of about 30 engineers and technicians, dedicated to the cause of making the movements of people and goods, from a place to another, as efficient and safe as possible.
What we do?
Major responsibilities of the TMRSU include:
- Maximizing road safety through engineering measures such as traffic calming and speed management as well as through Education and Training programs (ETP) and mass media sensitization campaigns;
- Building and maintaining a comprehensive injury road crash database with the Road Crash Data Management system;
- Ensuing traffic fluidity through various traffic control measures such as traffic lights, traffic signs, road markings and parking restrictions; and
- Advising other ministries and departments on traffic and safety related matters including development controls.
Why we do what we do?
On average, about 145 road traffic fatalities are reported annually in Mauritius: - 139 in 2015, 144 in 2016, 157 in 2017, 143 in 2018 and 144 in 2019.
This corresponds to a fatality rate of 3 fatalities per 10,000 vehicles or about 13 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2019, most of the fatal victims were riders and pillion riders of motorised two wheelers (40%) pedestrians (24%) followed by drivers (17%) passengers (14%), and pedal cyclist (6%). In other words, the vulnerable road users (riders of two wheelers and pedestrians) account for more than half (64%) of the fatalities.
In an African perspective the road safety situation in Mauritius is better than in many countries. However, in comparison with the best performing developed countries (UK, Sweden and Netherlands), Mauritius lags behind. Mauritian road crash rate is three times higher than that of European best performing countries that are at 1 fatality per 10,000 vehicles.
If nothing drastic is done to address the road safety problem, road crashes together with its huge economic costs to society have the potential to reverse the gains so far achieved in both economic and human capital development.
Road Safety Strategy for Mauritius 2016-2025
A Road Safety Strategy for Mauritius 2016-2025 has been elaborated some years ago and is largely based on the UN's Decade of Action global initiative. The objective of the Strategy is to achieve a 50% reduction in the number of killed and seriously injured by the year 2025.
The TMRSU is the main implementing body of the Road Safety Strategy 2016-2025.
The actions in the Strategy that are being implemented include:
- A modernisation update of the road crash data management system where details of injury road crashes are being reported by the police via computer tablets into a web-based system. This new iMAAP RCDMS system is to simplify and effectively manage the difficult and resource intensive process of police crash data storage, analysis, reporting and management. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure the quality (accuracy, consistency, completeness, integrity and timeliness) of the data and its continual evolution to meet the various users' needs.
- The setting up of a Road Safety Observatory, where close collaboration between road safety practitioners and academia will support all aspects of road safety policy development at national level through the scientific study of the road and traffic system.
- Improving the safety standards of our road infrastructure, by revisiting our traffic signs to meet the requirements of international conventions (e.g. the Vienna Convention), upgrading pedestrian facilities through trialing of traffic calming devices and building safe cycle networks integrated with public transport modes.
- Rolling out of the Continuum of Road Safety Education programme in primary schools, where children aged 5 to 12 years follow road safety lessons and activities for 20 minutes per week. The programme will be extended to secondary schools.
- Strengthening of the Road Traffic Laws and Enforcement including stricter drink driving regulations and penalties.
- Extensive use of road safety mass media campaigns to raise awareness on road hazards, road crashes and their consequences and to change human behaviour through coordinated publicity and police enforcement.
The relation between the quantity and quality of transport infrastructure and the level of economic development is well known. As with road safety, road congestion too can reverse the economic progress achieved so far. Besides, it has been estimated that road congestion is costing the country about 4 billion rupees annually (Source: http://www.govmu.org/English/News/Pages/Metro-Express-project).
Traffic congestion in urban/rural areas across Mauritius has grown tremendously over the last ten years. This increase in traffic congestion has been simultaneous with increase in urban population. Adding more lanes to existing highways and building new roads have been the traditional response to urban congestion.
The TMRSU will adopt the Transportation Systems Management (TSM) approach to congestion mitigation which seeks to identify improvements to enhance the capacity of the existing traffic system. Through better management and operation of existing transportation facilities, these techniques are designed to improve traffic flow, air quality, and movement of vehicles and goods, as well as enhance system accessibility and safety.
TSM are low-cost but effective in nature, which include, but are not limited to:
- Intersection and signal improvements (e.g. signal timing optimization)
- Freeway bottleneck removal programs (e.g provision of hard shoulders, improvement of road signage)
- Traffic Management measures (e.g. provision of one-way roads, banning right turning movements, provision of bus lanes)
Coordinated Adaptive Traffic Control System (CATCS)
Currently all traffic signal installation in Mauritius operates on a single timing plan. In that, regardless of the change in traffic demand at the intersection, the traffic signals provide the same fixed amount of green times. This type of traffic signal operation is very inefficient and results in traffic congestion during peak periods.
The Coordinated Adaptive Traffic Control System (CATCS) will improve the efficiency of the traffic signal operations by automatically adjusting green times based on actual traffic demand.
The traffic signal equipment will also be remotely connected to the main control room at the TMRSU to monitor the health of the system and intervene on its programming and maintenance.
The benefits of the Coordinated Adaptive Traffic Signals include:
- reducing travel time and stop frequency,
- reducing the number of rear-end collisions,
- increasing customer satisfaction,
- reducing the costs of congestion thereby saving fuel and time, and
- reducing vehicle emissions
- allowing relevant traffic information (such as journey time and road safety information) to be conveyed using the variable message sign system.
Establishment of a Road Traffic Database
A Road Traffic Database (RTD) is about to be established. The RTD will make available the traffic data needed for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the country's road network.
Traffic Modelling Unit
The TMRSU has set up a Traffic Modelling Unit (TMU) with a view to support strategic level decision making and long term planning. With the use of dedicated software including PTV VISUM/VISSIM, the TMU will be:
- carrying traffic/transport modelling exercises in view of finding measures to minimise the impact of traffic congestion along major arterial roads;
- assessing the strategic justification for major transport infrastructure projects;
- assessing the impacts of infrastructure developments and the associated intensity of land use development on the surrounding road network; and
- providing the means for the on-going development of procedures to quantitatively test and evaluate transport initiatives and policies.
How to contact us?
Director: Mr D. Nathoo
Hours: Monday - Friday: 8.45 am – 4.00 pm
Postal address: Samlo Tower, Aurellie Feillafe Street, Port Louis
Email: tmrsu@govmu.org
Phone: 2108739
Fax: 2110075
