|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 30 June 2002 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Tough new laws to penalise errant drivers by JAYAMPATHY JAYASINGHE The National Council for Road Safety (NCRS) will be recommissioned shortly with the introduction of tough new laws to penalise errant drivers. These changes are being introduced in a bid to curb the rising incidents of fatal road accidents involving errant drivers. It is learnt that most police divisions in the country do not have senior gazetted officers to co-ordinate traffic matters which has led to the present situation. The Minister of Defence, Transport, Highways and Civil Aviation Tilak Marapane, who chaired a meeting with several bodies involved in transportation and traffic matters on Friday vowed to set up the NCRC. The Minister is empowered to set up the Council for a period of three years. The previous Council became defunct as it was not commissioned in the past few years. It is learnt that provision exists under the Motor Traffic Act for the setting up of a Traffic Administration Council by the Commissioner of Motor Traffic to address serious issues pertaining to traffic and transportation matters. New legislation will also be introduced to cancel route permits of private bus owners involved in fatal accidents. According to the DIG, Traffic, Daya Jayasundera, police will advise the National Transport Commission and other transport bodies to enforce regulations that compel drivers who qualify to drive buses to follow a mandatory training programme before being employed. Senior Supdt. of Police (SSP) City Traffic, Alfred Wijewardena, told the Sunday Observer many pedestrians have been knocked down and killed by motorists while crossing roads. He attributed the increase in the number of fatal accidents to motorists not observing traffic rules and vehicles driven at high speeds by drivers under the influence of alcohol. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
