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August - hoodoo month for motorists

The Colombo City Traffic Police recorded 34,263 motor offences in August this year as against the 20,775 offences detected during the corresponding month last year. The increase in detections is attributed to the rigid enforcement of traffic laws by the Colombo City Traffic Police and Traffic Police Branches in Colombo.

Senior Superintendent of Colombo City Traffic Police, B. D. A. Wijewardena commenting on driving standards in Colombo said: " Driving has become a part of our daily lives. And for some of us,it is almost an unconscious habit. But people can become over relaxed and inattentive when they drive, and thereby they develop bad habits. Sometimes they never learn good driving habits to begin with."

"Since, safe driving is an acquired ability and not an inborn talent, taking time to review and revise the way you drive could mean the difference between safe, happy driving and never driving again at all. The safer the drive, the better. Develop your safe driving habits today. It's never too late to learn. Why not make safe driving a way of life."

Three wheeler drivers were the biggest offenders with 7431 detections made against them last month. Private bus drivers come second with 5209 offences.

City Traffic Police said the biggest number of traffic offences are the result of disregard of traffic signs mostly the road signs and colour lights. Police detected 10,840 instances of driving against red lights and road signs.

They have detected 4978 offences of violations of other road rules and 3652 offences of unauthorised parking and causing obstruction to other motorists. The number of reported lighting offences stands at 1791 while the offences of picking passengers away from the designated bus halts numbered 1409.

Of 872 reported accidents, 12 were fatal while 20 were classified as serious.

Six pedestrians, four passengers, three motor cyclists and one pedal cyclist were the victims in 12 fatal accidents. Three private buses, three vans, three lorries, a three wheeler, a bowser, a truck, a pedal cycle and two unknown vehicles had caused these fatal accidents.

The Traffic Police have identified the Cinnamon Gardens Police area as a 'black spot' area which has reported the highest number of accidents (110). The reported accidents in the Borella Police area is 100 while 99 and 91 accidents were reported from the Bambalapitiya and Slave Island Police divisions respectively.

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