Police get tough with jaywalkers

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The City Traffic Police will impose heavy penalties on jay walkers who violate traffic laws while crossing busy streets.

The Police Department has directed police officials countrywide to take stern action against jaywalkers.

City Traffic Police SP Chula de Silva told the Sunday Observer that many road accidents occurred not only due to the negligence of motorists, but also due to the carelessness of pedestrians who do not pay much attention to traffic laws, especially when walking on busy streets .

The police have also launched another program in collaboration with the Road Development Authority to minimise the number of road accidents by installing a sound signal system for the benefit of blind people and a special variety of road carpets has been laid at certain points between Bambalapitiya and Kollupitiya along the newly completed Galle Road.

Hemalatha Karavita who was employed at the Panadura Base Hospital was knocked down recently when a speeding Colombo bound private bus from Galle had gone out of control and knocked her down while she was about to cross the road at a pedestrian crossing. The driver was taken in for questioning.

The Police Department has launched an islandwide Road Safety Program in collaboration with the Education Department to create an awareness among schoolchildren on the importance of obeying traffic rules.