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| Sunday, 13 July 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Murder on the highway by ANTON NONIS
The City Traffic Police say there are about 300 road accidents a month in the city. They say that fatalities vary. ranging even to 15 a month, sometimes. Traffic authorities investigating the daily quota of road accidents, warn that unless some drastic measures are introduced, motor accidents may soon top the lists of human deaths in Sri Lanka. According to Deputy Inspector General (Traffic), Daya Jayasundara, fatalities from road accident deaths account for nearly seven per cent of all accidental deaths. This amounts to nearly two per cent of all deaths reported in the country annually. Colombo National Hospital continues to admit more than 100 road accident victims for treatment, daily. According to the Director, Dr. Hector Weerasinghe, the hospital has treated nearly one million victims of motor accidents during the past 12 years. The numbers are mind boggling. But what's cause for concern is the high number of victims admitted to hospital after every single accident. Last week for instance, 30 people were admitted to hospital after two horrendous accidents involving buses and van collisions in Mawanella and Kurunegala. Most of these accidents have been attributed to speeding, disregard for traffic regulations, unroad worthy vehicles and incompetent and reckless drivers. In some instances, the police have been blamed, for turning a blind eye on speeding and reckless driving and even at times covering up for the drivers and vehicle when accidents occur. This has led to further chaos on the road, with onlookers often resorting to violence at the scene of the accident. On more than one occasion bystanders have taken the law into their hands to deal with motorists irrespective of who is at fault Buses, lorries and cars involved in accidents have been set on fire, drivers attacked, and widespread general destruction has taken place. A case in point is the recent incident in Mount Lavinia where a deputy Commissioner of Examinations was killed by angry hoards when his vehicle ran over a woman. She had been relaxing in the compound of her house when the unfortunate incident occurred. Investigations by traffic police reveal the people's disgust over errant drivers have led to such situations. Questioned as to why there were so many accidents on the highways, DIG Jayasundara admitted the incidents were high and attributed them to a lack of co-ordination among those using the roads, mainly the motorist and the pedestrian. He said there was a set of road rules every motorist had to follow. Pedestrians, he said, also had to follow some rules drawn out for their own safety. "If both parties paid attention to these, I'am sure we might even reach a condition of `accident free' highways," the DIG mused. However, Mr. Jayasundara said, neither party completely adhered to the rules and there were flaws on both sides. This is evidence at pedestrian crossings which are increasingly losing their significance as safe places to cross the road. Instances are many where motorists ignore all traffic rules when approaching a pedestrian crossing. The Traffic police view this infringement of pedestrian crossings as seriously reckless on the part of the motorist. The most vulnerable at the crossings are schoolchildren, the old and the infirm. Pedestrians to a certain extent are also responsible for road mishaps, especially at pedestrian crossings. Police claim the pedestrians have to be cautious, when crossing the road and pay attention to the on coming vehicles. Less care by them have resulted in serious traffic accidents on the yellow lines. However, a majority of the pedestrians feel they are unsafe at these crossings. Another contributory factor to the increasing number of accidents is the road network not expanding relative to increasing vehicular traffic. Earlier there had been 'peak hour' traffic on the roads, both in the morning and evening. But now, it is a case of peak hour throughout the day, a traffic cop manning a pedestrian crossing near St. Peter's College, Bambalapitiya, said. Studies carried out by the City Traffic Police reveal that most road accidents are caused as a result of speeding. According to DIG Jayasundara, the worst areas for speeding are Wadduwa, Kelaniya, Negombo, Chilaw, Kurunegala and Polonnaruwa. The open stretch has tempted motorists to step on the pedal and reach speeds, way beyond the specified limits.
Such type of trespassing into other lanes have even resulted in head on collisions as what happened in Bangadeniya a few weeks ago. The three-wheeler collided with a lorry that was coming in the opposite direction. Its driver and a passenger were killed on the spot. The situation with motor bikes is no better. A motorcyclist who tried to push through a congested point in Belekkade junction, Ratmalana was run over by a bus which was trying to speed up almost simultaneously. The pillion rider paid with his life while the rider sustained grievous injuries. The traffic police are planning to create perfect safe conditions for road users. DIG Jayasundara said they have drawn up a 'Divisional Level Action Plan' from July to December for the whole country to educate motorists to drive their machines without endangering anyone's life. |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Two children killed in school van... 11 killed and 5 injured in bus
tragedy... 10 injured in head-on collision ...are headlines of death and
destruction on the highways and by-ways of Sri Lanka, has once again
raised the question of road safety and the effectiveness of traffic laws-
According to Senior Superintendent of City Traffic, Alfred Wijewardane
a total of about 375,000 vehicles come to Colombo daily. It has been
analysed that a momentary traffic block could create a congestion
extending up to a kilometre in seconds. Police Investigations reveal that
three-wheelers on many instances have contributed to a considerable amount
of road accidents. Three- wheel drivers criss-crossing the road violating
traffic rules to the hilt is becoming a problem to the police.
