Stopping vehicles on zebra crossings taboo
by Ananda KANNANGARA
The City Traffic Police have warned motorists to refrain from
stopping vehicles on the Zebra crossings when pedestrians use them.
According to a senior Police spokesman, many motorists were in the
habit of stopping their vehicles on the crossing line until pedestrians
cross the road.
City Traffic Police, SSP Chula de Silva told the Sunday Observer that
over 300 such cases are reported from Colombo and other major cities
every month and the offenders are produced before the Courts.
He also drew attention on the use of mobile phones by motorists while
driving and said that over 200 persons are detected every month for
doing so.
“We have deployed special teams to crack down on offenders especially
in the city, since most of the cases are reported from city limits”.
An incident was reported from Gampaha recently where a 21-year-old
Lakmal Hewapathirana was knocked down by the Kurunegala bound train from
Colombo while he was driving through an unprotected railway crossing
using a mobile phone.
“Using mobile phones while driving have led to a number of road
accidents in the recent past and motorists must be vigilant,” the SSP
said.
SSP De Silva called upon all motorists to refrain from stopping their
vehicles on the crossing lines and allow people to walk across. He also
cautioned them against using mobile phones while driving.
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