Description

This comprehensive empirical study investigates Vehicle Operating Costs (VOC) and urban traffic performance across the Metropolitan Area of Cape Town, South Africa. Urban transport networks present complex operating environments where traffic congestion, frequent signalized intersections, stop-and-go driving, and varying pavement conditions combine to elevate user costs. The study gathered extensive field data using telemetry-equipped commercial fleets, public transit buses, and private passenger vehicles operating along major arterial corridors and freeways. Empirical measurements focused on fuel consumption rates, tire wear, vehicle maintenance and repair expenses, and travel time delays under varying traffic densities and surface roughness levels. The report updates historical VOC baseline relationships, reflecting modern vehicle technologies, local fuel pricing, and current economic conditions in South Africa. Mathematical models were established linking speed-flow relationships and International Roughness Index (IRI) values to direct vehicle operating expenditures. The findings demonstrate that targeted pavement resurfacing and traffic signal optimization on high-volume urban corridors generate immediate, substantial economic savings for freight operators and commuters. The study provides Cape Town's transportation authority with recalibrated VOC parameters for use in traffic management models, public transport planning, and major infrastructure investment evaluations.