Speed thrills but kills

Modern cars are lethal weapons in the hands of reckless motorists

It was around 2.45 a.m. last Sunday when people at Padiyatalawa -Mahiyangana road saw a Jeep travelling at break neck speed. Due to excessive speed the vehicle veered off the road skidded and hit against a tree killing four passengers and critically injuring five other passengers.

According to reports the group of persons were returning after visiting the Dabana Veddha village. Among the dead were the co-ordinating secretary of a ministry along with two woman and another person. The five critically injured passengers were admitted to the Badulla and the Kandy hospital.

The tragic accident had occurred near the 50th mile post on the Padiyatalawa road. According to Police the driver would have fallen asleep when the vehicle hit a bump on the road. The jeep had then turned turtle and finally came to a halt after it knocked against a tree.

Passengers had sustained critical injuries when the jeep's hood was ripped off when it turned turtle. The police in the meantime have not been able to record the statements of the injured passengers as they were in a critical condition.

According to reports one of the person who was killed in the accident was the centenarian father of the co-ordinating secretary. Even the magisterial inquiry had to be further postponed as the injured passengers were still in a critical condition.

It is not clear what exactly happened on that fatal day. But according to police excessive speed was the main factor in this tragedy. Speed thrills but also kills is a slogan we see at most places. But in reality how many motorists do adhere to this rule?

Meanwhile several accidents were reported from different parts of the country during the month of June. The most disturbing factor was that these serious accidents now occur with alarming frequency.

A number of persons had been killed and injured in road accidents. According to police an average of 2,000 fatal accidents occur each year due to several factors such as negligence, poor quality roads and over crowding of buses. Driving under the influence of liquor was another factor prevalent a few years ago.

However with the introduction of stringent traffic laws and with heavy fines imposed by courts such accidents have dropped drastically. Police how ever blame motorists for not observing the highway code strictly. Negligence and over speeding were the main causes of accidents. Modern vehicles with high speed can be a lethal weapons in the hands of un untrained motorist, police say.

Last week an accident was reported on Dambulla -Matale road when a van ploughed in to a three wheeler, killing a woman passenger and injuring two other passengers. The injured were admitted to the Dambulla hospital. On the Ratnapura Badulla road a motor cycle rider was killed and a school child was critically injured when a van that came from behind overran the motor cyclist.

The child had been on the road close to the spot where the motor cycle and the vehicle collided. The motor cycle rider died later after being admitted to Katawatte police. Meanwhile Seeduwa police are on the lookout for the vehicle that knocked down a motor cyclist at the new bridge at Muthuwadiya-Seeduwa on June 29.

The motor cycle rider succumbed to injuries while the rogue driver escaped without reporting the accident. On the same day a vehicle driven at terrific speed went off the road at Banadarawatte at Seeduwa and ploughed into a garage killing its driver.

On June 27 a SLTB bus carrying school children went off the road at Badulla Wevelhinna road and plunged in to a roof of a house injuring 23 school children. The bus was carrying nearly 48 passengers, police said.

On Badulla -Mahiyangana road last month a van went down a 50 foot precipice near the Dunhinda water falls injuring eleven persons who were returning to Dehiatakandiya. The latest incident was reported from Godakawela police when police intercepted a run away vehicle at Koswetiya check point that had met with three accidents on the same day.

The vehicle was travelling on the Embilipitiya-Ratnapura road. OIC Godakawela police is making further inquiries.

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