Safety on the Gautrain
BRYANSTON – A recent Synovate survey has revealed that perceived safety on the Gautrain is the main deterrent for using the rapid rail link once it has been built.
An overwhelming 45% of car and taxi commuters travelling between Johannesburg and Tshwane report that safety would be the one thing stopping them from using the Gautrain.
The doubt surrounding the safety on the train is higher amongst taxi commuters. Half of those interviewed were in agreement that security was a major concern. 40% of car travellers agreed with this sentiment.
However, when considering the external dangers presented when travelling via taxi or car (including hijacking and accidents) most (60%) of commuters actually stated that the Gautrain would be safer, especially so amongst taxigoers (70%).
This would provide a major opportunity for the Gautrain team, but seems to be overridden by fears for personal safety when actually on the train, possibly because of the current dangers that exist on trains already running in South Africa.
Surprisingly, it is the younger age groups that display a more trust in the safety of the Gautrain when comparing it to taxi and car travel. While 74% of those aged between 16 and 24 years believe that the Gautrain presents a safer mode of travel, only 52% of those over 50 years of age concur.
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Synovate, the market research arm of Aegis Group plc, generates consumer insights that drive competitive marketing solutions. The network provides clients cohesive global support and a comprehensive suite of research solutions. Synovate employs over 5,500 staff in 50 countries.
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