Sri Lanka has one of the worst road safety records in the whole world, with an average of six road deaths every day. The number of injured road users is much higher. The accident rate has reached a critical point that any delay in taking tough measures will result in a further deterioration of road discipline and of course, more deaths and injuries.
The authorities have realised the gravity of the situation and are planning to develop a multi-sectoral action plan to identify shortcomings in road safety rules, strengthening laws and adding new laws in partnership with stakeholders to control the alarming increase in traffic accidents in the country. This action plan will seek to impart international road safety rules to Sri Lanka to build strong road rules and a framework of action for road safety.
Even a cursory glance at any newspaper will reveal one startling fact: Most of the accidents are caused by three wheelers, motorcycles and buses. Pedestrians and pedal cyclists are close behind. A fresh circular has been issued by DIG Traffic Amarasiri Senarathne to deploy special teams to ensure strict adherence to traffic laws by three-wheeler drivers and motorcycle riders. The circular has also issued instructions to strictly implement the existing law limiting the number of passengers in a three-wheeler to three. This circular comes in the wake of a recent fatal accident involving a three-wheeler, which killed three children and an adult. The vehicle was carrying seven passengers. Police have generally turned a blind eye to overcrowded three-wheelers as they were considered a poor man's vehicle, but the sheer number of accidents involving overcrowded three-wheelers have forced a rethink.
Three-wheelers have become the biggest threat to road safety over the years. There are 1,050,000 three- wheelers registered in the country, of which an estimated 800,000 are in use. Out of this number, an estimated 500,000 three-wheelers are engaged in passenger transport. The problem is that no regulations exist to ensure the safety of passengers travelling in these or any other privately owned vehicles engaged in transport services except for buses, according to the DIG.
Three-wheelers engage in highly dangerous moves on the road, including abrupt U-turns, cutting in and out of other traffic and stopping abruptly to pick up hires. They generally disregard all road rules and even the recent introduction of lane discipline laws has not apparently disciplined them. The three-wheeler market is saturated now and the addition of around 10,000 three-wheelers every month has worsened the traffic situation.
Buses, especially of the private variety, are frequently involved in fatal accidents. Private bus drivers drive their massive vehicles in a reckless manner, especially if they want to overtake another competing bus. They hardly think about the lives of passengers including children. There are many other factors that contribute to accidents involving all types of vehicles, including mechanically unsound vehicles, driver fatigue and micro sleep, road rage, using mobile phones while driving, Driving Under the Influence, disregarding road rules and poorly trained drivers. There should be a complete overhaul of our driver training and licensing systems in order to produce disciplined drivers.
One other problem that even the Yahapalanaya Government seems to be ignoring (despite a pledge to eradicate it) is errant VIP drivers who practically run amok on public roads, pushing other motorists to a corner with a wave of their white gloved hands. This was amply illustrated by an incident that occurred at the Delkanda junction yesterday morning around 9 a.m. where a senior policeman, probably an ASP, was nabbing motorists who cut across the continuous white line. The police officer waved an offending motorcyclist down and before he could even walk over to the motorcyclist, a huge brand new Toyota Sahara Landcruiser cut across the white line. The police officer stopped it, but to the disbelief of other motorists and passersby, actually, shamelessly, saluted the passenger (!) and let the vehicle go. (The same VIP driver even ignored the policeman's signals at the junction and sped away towards Nugegoda).
The enraged motorcyclist was seen arguing (rightly) that road laws should apply equally to all, and the posse of policemen had to make an unceremonious exit as quite a crowd was watching the entire drama. This was a complete moral outrage that should not have happened at all. Action must be taken against the errant policemen in this and other such cases. If the motorcyclist was nabbed, the VIP driver too should have been booked. There cannot be one law for VIP, Armed Forces and Police drivers and another set of laws for ordinary citizens. Everyone must be equal before the law. This is whole premise of the new governance structure and it is saddening when that foundation is breached openly in this manner. Disciplining VIP drivers is also a must to ensure safer roads, along with a comprehensive plan to improve overall road safety and discipline.
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