Review Lanka's domestic traffic laws says Motor engineer:

Road rules at what price?

By Manjula FERNANDO

Social responsibility and road discipline play a key role over traffic laws in avoiding road accidents, Consultant Automobile Engineer Lal Alawatte said minutes after the first fatal traffic accident was reported from the Galle-Colombo Expressway on Friday.

With vast experience in the field of motor engineering, Lal Alawatte was interviewed by Sunday Observer last week. The interview was prompted by the disturbing news that Sri Lanka recorded the highest number of road accidents within a period of 24 hours the previous Saturday. Seventeen people were killed in the 15 incidents reported that day.

"The time has come for us to review our domestic motor traffic laws. I think we are already late in addressing the issue," he however added as much as the traffic laws, "everything finally trickles down to social responsibility".

"The laws against drunk driving are there but the incidents of traffic accidents due to drunk drivers have certainly increased. How can we address this issue? This is where the social responsibility and the road discipline come to play.

As a driver or pedestrian we have responsibilities towards others. These don't have age, class, religious, ethnic or political differences. They are common to all. The drivers must protect the pedestrians and the passengers in his vehicle, while ensuring he is not polluting the environment by his emissions or sounds.

It is a fact that road discipline among our drivers has deteriorated drastically. We cannot have tuition classes on road rules, ethics and discipline. And laws can do little to inculcate good manners. If you are a professional driver, you have to have a very high degree of discipline on the road. This does not mean the others can have their own way.

Alawatte who sports an in-depth knowledge on the mechanics of automobiles spoke on unethical practices of Sri Lankan vehicle owners and drivers and the dangers of them to the road users.

He says there is no hard and fast rule in the country governing the area of unethical modifications of automobiles, traffic cops do not check the cars for reckless modifications but this is an area that should be monitored at the point of renewing revenue licence.

As for 'social responsibility', it is a quality that individuals themselves should make an effort in inculcating.

Speed

Speed thrills but kills. It is critical that drivers adhere to the speed limits when driving, particularly on the Galle expressway. I have a brand new Toyota RAV4 and my home town is Galle. I use the expressway very often but I have a never exceeded the 100kmph limit. The State has set a speed limit based on the condition of the road. The high speed roads need to be sloped at bends. If you try to meet the speed good for a super highway in an expressway, the journey will definitely end in tragedy. Even hi-tech safety measures in super luxuries will fail to redeem your life, if the speed exceeds with road conditions.

Modifications

Whatever modification done to the vehicle by an unprofessional engineer or a mechanic is dangerous. To do the modifications you should know the engineering of the vehicle. There are many safety factors to be considered.

For example in a collision the bonnet of the vehicle is designed to bend. If you disregard this fact and make modifications to the bonnet, a minor impact on the front of the automobile could get the driver killed.

Increase in vehicle height is another area that a cautious driver should give mind to. True, a jeep looks very attractive with an elevated height. But stability decreases with the height and a sudden brake at 60kmph speed could send the vehicle topsy turvy. The off road conditions are highly risky for ordinary roads.

Large brake pedals and accelerator pedals.

Some replace their original pedals with extra large ones. This is very dangerous. They cause confusion and lead to accidents.

Lights/silencers/horns

Powerful lights blind the other drivers on road. They come in different colours and shapes, and one is made to wonder if there is a law in this country overseeing this area. In buses, trishaws and cars silences are modified to do a reverse job. The horns too seem to be meant to drive away wild buffaloes and elephants. The worst are the private buses. Strict laws were brought in to curb sound pollution but no one seems to be in charge when it comes to enforcing the law.

TV/DVD

In many new models, there is a built in TV or a DVD player. The purpose is to watch movies or TV in the car. In an originally manufactured car the TV works when the hand brake is applied. The power supply goes through the hand brake switch. But here, the owners modify the unit bypassing the safety factor. Now the TV works while the car is on the move. Locally installed DVD/TV sets don't have this safety feature either.

Gas conversions

Gas conversions, the way it is being done in Sri Lanka, is hazardous. This is my opinion. There were incidents of explosions in the past during the time cars ran on domestic gas cylinders.

Diesel conversions

This is like a heart transplant. It has to be done by a professional. This involves mechanical tallying of many parts; the gear box, radiator, exhaust pipe, etc. You cannot replace the petrol engine of your vehicle with any diesel engine. The engine you choose must tally with the other parts. If this is not done properly the output of your vehicle will be poor.

Super luxuries cut in two

To avoid customs duty, imported cars are brought in two units declared as vehicle parts. Then the two units are welded together and sold at cheap rates. This is a racket. In a case of an accident the cars will bend in two. The body cannot withstand the impact. The thin metal of a car has to be reinforced to give the vehicle its strength. Cutting main chassis is prohibited under motor engineering law because a welded chassis has zero strength. Don't do any heat treatment on a chassis.

Seat belts

The impact of a crash could be much higher than we guess. It could force the body to bend forward from our lower back, causing the spinal cord to break. The steering wheel can crash on to your chest and break the rib bones. The head could jerk and break the spinal cord, the head could hit the wheel.

The seat belt can protect you from all these things. Therefore it is always good to heed the law than resist it.

Brake efficiency

Testing brake efficiency is a must. Apart from the authorities, drivers must be aware of the brake efficiency. As you start on a journey, within the first 50m, you must apply brakes and try to gauge their efficiency.

He emphasised it is time that a MOT certificate which tests mechanical and running condition of the vehicle is made compulsory at the point of revenue license in Sri Lanka, given the high degree of road development taking place.

The Ministry of Transport test (usually abbreviated to MOT test) is an annual test of automobile safety, roadworthiness aspects and exhaust emissions required for most vehicles that are over three years old in the United Kingdom.

The total number of fatal accidents recorded last year -156.

The highest number of fatal road accidents reported to the Police, Traffic HQ within a period of 24 hours was recorded from 6.00 am on 28.1.2012 to the following morning.

They were:

1. 68-year-old motorcyclist killed in collision with lorry in Ruwanwella police area.

2. 62-year-old female passenger dies after car runs off road in Ragama police area.

3. 62-year-old pedestrian hit by three-wheeler in Wattala police area.

4. Pedestrian hit by a van in Mirigama police area.

5. 41-year-old pedestrian hit by a van in Mirigama police area.

6. 52-year-old pedestrian hit by a bus in Negombo police area.

7. Motorcyclist killed in collision with lorry in Kochchikade police area.

8. 16-year-old and 17-year-old motorcyclists killed after collision between two motorbikes in Eppawala.

9. 19-year-old pedestrian hit by a lorry in Kuliyapitiya police area.

10. 63-year-old killed after motorcycle runs off the road in Kurunegala police area.

11. 79-year-old pedestrian hit by a van in Akuressa police area.

12. 70-year-old pedestrian hit by a bus in Matara police area.

13. 27-year-old motorcyclist killed in collision with a lorry in Ahungalla police area.

14. Tractor topples killing 47-year-old driver in Mahiyangana police area.

15. Two cyclists killed and motorcyclist injured after a car driven by a drunk driver ran them over in Payagala police area.
 

Pic. Saman Sri Wedage