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| Sunday, 3 February 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Negligent driving - the main cause Fatal road accidents on the increase by JAYAMPATHY JAYASINGHE The annual number of deaths as a result of road accidents on our highways is on the increase and most of them are due to carelessness of motorists driving at excessive speed under the influence of liquor. Jaywalking and crossing highways at unauthorised places have also contributed to this toll of fatal accidents. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), City Traffic, Alfred Wijewardena, told the "Sunday Observer" that there was a slight increase in the number of fatal accidents in the city of Colombo this year than in 2001.There were 119 fatal accidents last year as against 106 the previous year and, the number seriously injured, was 261 as against 227 the previous year. However, there was a slight drop in the number of persons who sustained minor injuries as well as damage caused to vehicles during this year. Nine= thousand-three-hundred and fifty-two persons had sustained minor injuries as against 11,061 last year. The total number of motor accidents for the year 2001 was 10,769 as against 12,490 the previous year. Alfred Wijewardena said the rate of accidents was on the increase due to motorists paying scant respect to traffic rules and regulations. He said vehicles driven by motorists at high speed under the influence of liquor had led to several fatal accidents. Overtaking from the wrong side, mechanical defects of vehicles were other contributory factors that led to serious accidents. Each year, more and more pedestrians have been victims of motor accidents while crossing highways at unauthorised places, he said. The following number of traffic offenses have been detected during the year 2001 in the city of Colombo: Overtaking 2,842, dangerous driving 1,174, accidents due to turning 3,127, driving under the influence of liquor 165, mechanical defects of vehicles 132, accidents on pedestrian crossings, 124. According to Police Traffic Headquarters, 2,140 persons had died in road accidents in the year 2000. In the Colombo city alone there were 12,530 accidents in the year 2000 as against 12,751 in 1999. The drop in the number of accidents was due to traffic signals being erected at inter-sections and also due to strict enforcement of law. There were 153 fatal accidents recorded by the Kelaniya police in the year 2000, Nugegoda division 124 and Chilaw 122. |
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