Truck Overload Fine Rationalization on Ethiopian Primary Roads A Case Study on Addis Ababa -Adama Expressway
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Date
2015-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The increasing economic activities in recent years in Ethiopia have increased the movement of freight activities on major roads. The need for reducing cost of transportation and transporters' efforts to make more profit by transporting heavier load have made overloading common on major freight road corridors. While uncontrolled growth in loads and volumes of heavier trucks may be beneficial to transporters, overloading however brings structural deterioration of bridges, premature pavement damage, increase in road accidents, increased air pollution, traffic congestion etc. Literatures recommend for effective enforcement and rational fine to be used in order to protect road infrastructures and sustain their serviceability. Ethiopian axle load limit regulation criminalizes overloading and provides power to concerned government body to lay overload fine at local courts nearby weighing station. In this regard, it was observed that the fine currently established by courts lacks rationality and effectiveness in preventing overloading.
The purpose of this thesis is to establish rational overload fine and compare with court-imposed overload fines. The research investigates relationships between traffic under different overloading and corresponding economic impacts on flexible pavement in terms of earlier intervention, maintenance costs and related vehicle operating costs (VOCs) and travel time costs to road users. Using the Highway Design and Management software (HDM 4 Version 1.1) life cycle programme analysis was done considering five road sections under this case study of the Addis Ababa – Adama Road link. The results of the analysis showed that, with optimum maintenance interventions on most road sections, the economic impact per axle was higher for higher overload cases. Statistical comparison between rationalized overload fines and court-imposed overload fines also showed a significant variation in respect of individual fines. Based on samples of overloaded trucks, the court-imposed gross revenue was found to be less than what could have been collected using rationalized fines.
In view of the foregoing, the study recommends rational fine to be introduced and the responsibility be transferred from local courts to the road network management agency. Revenue collected through rational overload fine will be used as cost recovery for road maintenance works and for the management of the weighing stations. The rational overload fine penalty also has to be supported with intensive enforcement using fixed and mobile weighing stations to prevent overloading.
This study is expected to lay a foundation for scientific approach of determining overload charges in Ethiopia and beyond. The procedure could also be used in special permits considering economic impact, including bridge damage costs and other service charges. For the purposes of effectiveness of the new approach of rational revenue generation and road infrastructure sustainability, overload fine structures must be updated regularly using current road and traffic data, and other relevant assumptions which were not considered in this study.
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Transport Engineering