Today is World Day for Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims:

Call to end road deaths around the globe

By Pramod DE SILVA

A fatal accident

Glance through any local newspaper, in any language, and chances are that you will be greeted with horrific pictures of car crashes and news items giving details of the same. In fact, Police and Department of Motor Traffic statistics reveal that one road death occurs every four hours in Sri Lanka. Nearly 110 road accidents, including those fatal, occur every day around the island. This is an alarmingly high accident rate. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are the biggest victims. Around 21,506 road accidents occurred during the first seven months of this year of which 1,363 were fatal. Around 1,402 persons died in these accidents.

Worldwide too, a large number of traffic accidents occur every day. According to the United Nations, nearly 1.3 million people lost their lives and millions of others were injured on the world’s roads last year alone. It is a great tragedy that deserves more attention. This is why the UN has designated a World Day for Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims. The Day falls on the third Sunday of every month (this year, November 18). In Sri Lanka, the Health Ministry will mark the event this year as well.

Some of you may immediately query “Why the Health Ministry?” We tend to forget the massive health cost of accidents. The State spends millions of rupees every year on treating around 20,000 accident victims around the island, from those who sustain minor injuries to those who are left in a critical condition after accidents. For example, the Government spends nearly Rs.3 million to treat a victim with a spinal cord injury. Thus, accidents are a major health problem too. In fact, the number of deaths reported due to accidents is higher than the number of deaths caused by dengue and Non-Communicable Diseases.

Social problem

On the other hand, accidents lead to permanent disabilities for some victims, turning it into a social problem as well. The majority of road victims in Sri Lanka are aged 15 - 45. This also means the removal from the working population of healthy young men and women who could have made a major contribution to the economy had they not been injured or maimed. Road accidents affect the economy as well.

Ignoring traffic lights is a major cause of accidents

Many accidents (and hence the injuries) are avoidable or preventable. However, this is easier said than done until our motorists get more disciplined behind the wheel. With most drivers unaware of the very existence of the Highway Code and other road rules, it is a tall order.

One cannot blame the motorists alone - jaywalking is still very common here and a large number of pedestrians is knocked down by vehicles. One other factor, often overlooked, is the large number of vehicles in the country – nearly 4.5 million – with more than 50 percent of them being motorcycles and scooters. The limitations of the road network also contribute to this situation. Police say that most of the accidents involve motorcycles and three-wheelers. Private buses are also frequently involved in accidents.

What are the prime reasons for accidents? Reckless driving, driving under the influence of liquor, not obeying road signs/signals, speeding, disregarding road rules and using hand-held mobile phones while driving are among them. Some vehicles are also mechanically unsound.

Police have also advised pedestrians not to use mobile phones, especially when crossing the road (and even while walking on railway tracks, which in itself is prohibited). Some accidents are also caused by inexperienced drivers. Police are now taking strong action against jaywalkers.

Discipline on roads

The Government has also brought in a Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS) for motorists, as implemented in many other countries. The authorities hope that the DIPS would lead to more disciplined and road-rule abiding drivers, as those who exceed 23 points for traffic offences within two years, would have their licence suspended for a year. The number of points one ‘earns’ would depend on the severity of the offence committed. This is a commendable move.

Some accidents may be inevitable, but the truth is that 95 percent of accidents can be avoided if drivers (and cyclists and pedestrians) obey road rules and maintain road discipline. Each driver must be very careful on our roads, because not many adhere to road rules. If more and more drivers drive carefully, fewer accidents will happen.

We have heard the common refrain ‘speed kills’ and in this case, it is true. Speed limits are imposed for a reason and sometimes even if a speed limit is not specified, a driver should gauge a safe speed according to traffic, road and weather conditions. Drivers should be even more careful at night or in heavy rain when visibility is drastically reduced. Even the latest high intensity light systems, which can pose a risk to oncoming traffic, cannot compensate for daylight.

The other big problem is drunk driving. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) reduces one’s attention levels and dulls the senses. It is easy to make a fatal mistake in a DUI situation. There are motorists who feel they can handle a glass or two (and indeed there is a tolerable blood alcohol limit for the purpose of driving or operating machinery), but that is not a very good approach.

If you are drunk, get another (sober) person to drive or call a three-wheeler or cab. That may save a life – not just your licence.

Safer, smarter roads

Car makers and governments are striving to make driving and roads safer and smarter. Many cars already have lane departure warning systems, brake assist, sleepiness alert warning systems, electronic stability control, multiple airbags (including pedestrian airbags), night vision systems and even pre-crash systems which readies the car for an imminent crash to save the lives of passengers on board. Cars are becoming more intelligent.

Road signs are for all road users

Traffic authorities are working on ‘smart’ roads and traffic management systems which should help prevent accidents. In the future, cars will “talk” to each other and even avoid collisions without our knowledge. At least until then, nothing can replace a disciplined driver behind the wheel. And we need millions of them to see a world free of road traffic victims.

The theme of the event for 2012 is ‘Now is the time to learn from the past, Let’s make 2011-2020 a decade to remember!’

This relates to the call in the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for ongoing monitoring and evaluation, through relevant data systems, of road danger, road crashes, and their causes and impact.

This theme will encourage all road safety stakeholders, especially governments and traffic authorities to examine their countries’ road safety past and pursue a strategy to ensure a safer future, and encourage civil society groups to advocate and campaign for the same. People the world over are invited to burn a light (candle or other light, even switch on a cell-phone or torch) and illuminate houses, porches and civic buildings - in memory of road crash victims and to make the World Day visible and well known – from 6pm to 12 midnight, especially between 6-8pm today.