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| Sunday, 13 June 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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'Courteous Drivers Week' from June 21-28 Police clamp down on errant drivers by Anton Nonis The Secretary of Public Security, Law and Order, Tilak Ranavirajah, has instructed the Inspector General of Police, Indra de Silva, to clamp down on all errant drivers to ensure road safety on the highways. This follows the alarming increase of accidents on roads besides the inconvenience caused to all road users. The Inspector General has summoned a meeting with all his DIGs, SSPs and other police officers on how best it could be done. As an initial measure, the Inspector General has decided to start a countrywide `Courteous Drivers Week' from June 21 to 28. According to Deputy Inspector General (Traffic), Gamini Silva, over 2,500 police personnel would be deployed for the task at various locations on major highways concentrating more at the pedestrian crossings to nab errant motorists who drive in a lethargic manner and violate road rules. All three-wheeler taxis and private bus drivers including state buses will be subjected to a closer scrutiny and follow lectures on safe driving and road rules. DIG Silva said that large numbers of complaints were being received daily at the Police Headquarters and police stations about reckless and dangerous driving taking place on the highways. Police investigations had shown that a majority of the complaints emerged, especially from pedestrians. On the entirety, many of them have expressed their concern about `pedestrian crossings' marked in luminous yellow colour, where motorists did not pay attention at these points. Have these crossings lost their significance or that they be painted with a different colour? The DIG said their investigations had shown that most motorists attempt to speed up when approaching a crossing. It was not only dangerous but also a traffic offence, he said. According to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, there were over 1.6 registered vehicles but annually it was increasing by 100,000 new registrations. |
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