Road courtesy: Law of the wild ass!

by Chanuka Mannapperuma

Maitland Crescent roundabout Proposed new traffic system

Sri Lanka since the time, the white sahibs left our shores after independence, the country was left with a road and rail work which catered to only selected areas, for their convenience access to cash crops areas and defence establishments.

The City of Colombo, inundated with a steady stream of floating population, is bursting at its seams now with an avalanche of motor vehicles zig-zagging though narrow and ill planned roads.

Road deaths are a daily occurrence and the TV coverage of these accidents sprouts goose pimples for the viewers. But these accidents are by no means new only to our island, as there is no country where lives are not in danger on the roads.

To the amusement of all, someone remarked that road markings in Sri Lanka were just a waste of time and paint, going by the number of accidents, especially, those occurring at roundabouts and pedestrian crossings.

Take the Cinnamon Gardens roundabout for example. All signs indicate one way from Reid Avenue, Torrington Avenue and Maitland Place. Because of the circular roundabout (centre island), the circle is more prone to accidents. This is a very important junction and is always full of traffic.

The proposals by the experts (see graphics) to reduce accidents, taking into consideration the Independent Square which do not hold ceremonies every day, the best thing would be to remove the centre island and the small island towards Maitland Place. Bulk of the traffic move towards Reid Avenue. The road could be widened once the centre island is removed. And instead of the centre island a new one with modifications could be constructed. (See graphics)

Illegal overtaking is one of the major causes for road accidents. Overtaking must be done and with due care, at the right time, and at the right position, so that the vehicle does not obstruct other vehicles. Many road accidents often occur due to overtaking in a hurried manner combined with excessive speed,poor observation and judgment.

In our country there is also another category of people who crowd round scenes of road accidents. What happens then is that these enraged people sitting in judgement set fire to the vehicles on the spot, even before thinking of who is innocent or guilty, and rushing the victims to the hospital before assaulting the drivers, in some cases resulting in death. However serious the accident may be, such behaviour cannot be condoned in a civilised society. By following the highway code we could do without these tragic events!.

Another major issue is the broad zebra crossings for pedestrians, which at least in theory, a place where a man, woman, child or a group can cross from one side of the road to the other without fear of being mowed down.

Drivers, again in theory, are expected to slow down while approaching pedestrian crossings and be prepared to stop. So, the ding-dong battle is between the man-on foot and a man-on wheels, the pedestrian crossing is one place where the right of the pedestrian is absolute. But, again, that is only in theory. In reality, drivers more often treat the yellow strip as a 'bloody nuisance'.