• Accidents on our roads

• Motorcycles sans mirrors
  
  
  Accidents on our roads

My car radio announces, "A father and his child knocked down on the Chilaw-Puttalam Road. A speeding truck was the cause of accident, injuring the rider and his child, who have been admitted to hospital. The child's condition was reported to be critical".

Everyday on the Colombo roads I see parents on motorcycles and at times with a child, and sometimes without helmets.

Motorists who speed could hit motorcycles and other vehicles. Perhaps the driver of the truck will be 'booked' by the police, and his licence cancelled. Does he hold a valid licence?

Over to the IGP and the Traffic Police.

Sydney Knight, Rajagiriya

Motorcycles sans mirrors

It has become rather a fashion among young motorcycle riders, to remove the reflecting mirrors no sooner they purchase their new motor cycles.

This compels them to look back to observe the vehicles following behind when the need arises to turn off from the main highway. The absence of reflecting mirrors on the right side of the rider is very dangerous as he is unaware when another vehicle is trying to overtake him.

Another irregularity I have observed is the lack of thoughtfulness on the part of most drivers while overtaking, to toot their horns to warn the vehicle in front. This lapse is also very dangerous as you cannot expect the driver in front to keep his eyes glued to his reflecting mirrors always as there is much to be observed in front especially nowadays, motorcyclists and three-wheeler drivers creep through from all sides and at times race along payments, especially where colour signals are installed, to get to the front of the queue.

As I reside a kilometre off the Chilaw/Negombo highway, I have noticed some private buses have adjusted their silencers to blare like sirens and and also produce obnoxious sounds similar to helicopters, resulting in noise pollution.

The people residing by the side of this road do not have a peaceful sleep during the nights. Just imagine the plight of innocent, elderly and sickly people, who do not fall asleep easily, to be disturbed during the nights by these unscrupulous drivers.

I think it is high time that the authorities concerned take appropriate action to overcome these problems.

G. Eric Muscreen, Marawila.