Accidents on highways continue unabated

by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

Accidents on the highways continue unabated as motorists care less for other road users and don’t adhere to the Highway Code, by driving in a negligent manner under the influence of liquor. This had contributed to the death toll last year.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody told the Sunday Observer that 2,263 people had died as a result of fatal road accidents from January 1 to December 30, 2012. The total number of fatal accidents reported during this period was 2,160 compared to 2,471 in 2011.

Seven hundred and forty nine pedestrians, 650 motorcyclists, 216 pillion riders, 288 cyclists, 259 motorists and 418 passengers and 117 others succumbed to fatal accidents in 2011. The number of fatal accidents last year has not been finalised as yet, the police said.

Several accident victims were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital last year and following the dawn of the New Year 2013. The total number of accidents reported at the Out Patients Department (OPD)during this period was 987 while 390 were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, the Director of the Accident Service, Dr. Prasad Ariyawansa told the Sunday Observer.

He said 119 persons taking medication for alcoholic-related diseases had been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.

The number of patients transferred from other hospitals to the Colombo National Hospital during this period was 118. Two persons were found dead on admission to hospital.

Dr. Ariyawansa said that 275 people had been involved in road accidents while 183 were related to home accidents. Thirty-eight people were injured as a result of them falling from heights and 67 persons were injured due to occupational injuries.

Meanwhile, 116 people sustained injuries due to violent quarrels. There was a significant drop in the number of accidents related to firecrackers last year due to people being educated on the hazards of firecrackers. “Only twelve people sustained minor injuries due to lighting firecrackers and 29 were injured due to sports activities. Other miscellaneous injuries to persons stood at 92 cases, Dr. Ariyawansa said.