Ensuring three wheeler safety

Just a couple of weeks ago, we heard that a three wheeler driver in Hasalaka had been nabbed by Police for transporting 14(!) schoolchildren. While this could certainly be a record, we have often seen three wheelers carrying six to eight people. There are even instances of the driver sharing his seat with a passenger, because the rear seat is fully packed.

The rear seat of a three wheeler is suitable only for three people or in the case of some larger three wheelers, three adults and a child. Any number over this limit could be highly dangerous if an accident occurs. To begin with, a three wheeler is not a very stable vehicle as it can easily flip over. It is also open on all sides, aggravating the danger.

In fact, from May 1 to 7 alone, three wheelers, also known as trishaws, were involved in 27 fatal accidents that killed 34 people.

One can hardly deny the important role played by three wheelers in everyday life in Sri Lanka. They transport millions of people and provide self-employment to around half a million people. It is a relatively affordable daily run-about for many families, especially in rural areas.

They are also used for goods transport. It is a vehicle that has transformed the transport landscape in Sri Lanka since its introduction in 1978.

Accidents

Against this backdrop, all right thinking citizens will welcome the decision by the Police to strictly implement regulations regarding three-wheelers to prevent fatal road accidents. Overloading three-wheeler drivers will be produced in court instead of imposing spot fines. The drivers will risk their licence on repeated offences.

The Police should launch a media campaign to take this message across to the three wheeler community islandwide.

A similar campaign on seat-belts has worked so well that practically every driver now wears the seat-belt. The court action will no doubt act as a deterrent, but it is also important to impart the message of safety.

In this context, it is important to check on some other safety aspects of three wheelers. When three wheelers are manufactured, the front wheel is given a certain ‘lock’ at the factory to prevent the driver from making dangerous turning manoeuvres. Most of our three wheeler drivers have removed this device, so that they can almost turn on a dime. \

In other words, the wheel can turn almost 270 degrees. This ‘facility’ is used to execute absurd manoeuvres on the road, including weaving in and out of the traffic at will and making u-turns with nary a thought for other traffic.

It will be virtually impossible for the Police to check three wheelers for this modification, but three-wheeler manufacturers and assemblers should instal a tamper proof mechanism for the front wheel to prevent drivers from changing its lock to lock ratio. Most three wheelers also come with a door guard on the right side to prevent passengers from alighting from that side instead of from the left.

However, there are many instances of three wheeler operators removing this guard so that passengers can enter and exit from the right side as well.

However, passengers who do so face the risk of being exposed to the flowing traffic on the right side. In fact, many three wheeler passengers have been knocked down by other vehicles whose drivers hardly expect someone to appear on the road suddenly. This too must be subject to checks.

Another noteworthy fact is that three wheeler passengers are rarely insured and may not receive any form of compensation if an accident occurs. There is still an opportunity for an enterprising insurance company to fill this void.

Indisciplined

We know that three wheeler drivers, along with private bus drivers, are the most indisciplined on our roads. Three wheeler drivers commit numerous other offences including having high decibel horns, disturbing music, road rage and abusive behaviour towards other motorists and reckless/fast driving in general. Three wheelers should not be driven very fast given their inherent instability but many three wheeler drivers disregard this factor. Disciplining three wheeler drivers is therefore vital.

Many believe that the three wheeler population in the country has reached a tipping point. There is not enough business to go around for many three wheelers.

This is why many analysts have welcomed the Government’s recent decision to impose a 100 percent overall tax on diesel and petrol three wheelers, while keeping a 50 percent tax band on electric three wheelers. This will restrict new registrations of three wheelers.

Many other countries in the region are phasing out petrol and diesel three wheelers, at least in the major cities.The operative term here is ‘petrol and diesel’ which means that the authorities are keen to encourage the use of three wheelers featuring alternative energy propulsion systems. This is why the overall tax for electric three wheelers has been set only at 50 percent.

I saw a CNG-powered (Compressed Natural Gas) three wheeler at the recent Pakistan trade exhibition held in Colombo. CNG is a substitute for petrol, diesel, or LPG. It is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill (natural gas is lighter than air, and disperses quickly when released).

This is one option the authorities could pursue. Local authorities are also planning to introduce hydrogen-powered three wheelers in collaboration with UNIDO, starting from the World Heritage Site of Galle Fort. The pilot project will run for one year and is likely to be extended if the project is successful. The hydrogen powered three wheelers will be supported by a mini hydrogen filling station.

The main advantage is the total lack of pollution. Moreover, a hydrogen-powered three wheeler can travel 80 Km on a single kilogram of hydrogen. Such alternative energy avenues must be explored to make our cities cleaner and safer.Ensuring three wheeler safety is a priority, given the large number of accidents involving three wheelers. A start has now been made, and that is a positive sign.