SLTB to launch novel project to minimise accidents:

Points system to choose best depot

by Janani AMARASEKARA

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has declared May as the month of accident prevention. "In line with a proposal by the Board's Vice Chairman, L.A. Wimalarathne, the program 'We save you', will be carried out to arrest the rising number of accidents and also give a boost to the income of the Board during this month," said Manager, Income Generation of Sri Lanka Transport Board, H. M. Chandrasiri.

Under the program, all the depots in the country will be assessed on a special grading scheme. Daily points will be awarded for the percentage of buses put into the service as per area requiremen, number of miles covered and the income brought in by the end of the day.

At the same time, points will also be deducted for passenger complaints and cases of accidents.

During this period, SLTB employees will also be educated on how to maintain a bus, ways and means to provide a better passenger service and highway code. The Sri Lanka Police and guest lecturers will conduct a lecture series in order to impart lessons.

As an incentive the depot with the highest number of points will be selected as the best depot. "We are planning to reward the winning depot, with something that will help further and sustain the depot facilities," said Chandrasiri.

"This will be the perfect project to minimise the number of accidents caused by SLTB buses.

All our employees will be enthused to provide a better service for the community," he added.

In the first three months of this year there were 380 accidents involving Sri Lanka Transport Board buses resulting in 23 deaths.

In 2010, the number of accidents involving State buses was 1,158.