Good roads, bad driving result in more accidents

by Carol Aloysius

Bad driving has resulted in a surge of road accidents in recent weeks, negating the positive benefits of road infrastructure development, National Hospital sources said.

“One emerging negative trend is the large number of three wheelers now taking advantage of the improved roads in the periphery to take long distance passengers. Some of them go as far as Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela, Galle and Moneragala and Puttalam, where some of the recent road accidents occurred”, Accident Service, National Hospital, Director, Dr Anil Jasinghe told the Sunday Observer.”

Not only are these three wheelers unsuited for long distance travel but are also usually overloaded,” he said.

Three wheelers (trishaws) did not come under the international road safety regulations as they were found mostly in this part of the region. “They have a low safety level and should be used only for short distance travel”, he said. “They also have a limited turning circle and are vulnerable to toppling if driven at high speed, climbing hills or turning suddenly”.

Commenting on the laws with regard to three wheelers introduced recently, he said, “The law must be enforced”. He cautioned people against using tractors with flat sheets as roofs for travelling, since passengers sitting atop these sheets could topple easily at the slightest jolt.

The Accident Service Director said cyclists should not travel in a bunch and be alert. Ensure that you can see both sides of the road and see that your brakes are in good order,” he said.