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by Dr. E.S. Thevasagayam

Every day reports of road accidents and deaths are reported in the press. With increasing traffic and the road network not keeping pace, more and more accidents are likely to happen at tremendous cost to life and property. There is always talk about road safety but no one seems to mention road discipline which I believe is important and will result in more safety.

The cost of road indiscipline

The number of accidents involving private buses outnumbers accidents involving other vehicles. It was noted in the press that this is due to lack of training to the drivers. I believe that these drivers are very competent and drive very well, which is very evident in the way they weave in and out of traffic and get to their destinations faster than anyone else. The Police once announced that they will charge vehicles trying to follow ambulances. I think following a private bus, one may get there even faster.

Once on the High Level road driving down from Borallesgamuwa I was overtaken by the same bus seven times after stopping to pick up passengers on the way and even after that he reached Colombo before me. This is clever and dangerous driving.

The trouble with private buses is a faulty system that their earning depends on the number of passengers they load and the number of trips that they make in a day which depends on the speed which they travel. If the drivers and conductors are on a regular salary then they need not have to drive so fast resulting in the many accidents.

To talk about road discipline I would like to bring out few examples of how road signs are ignored by motorists resulting in indiscipline stopped there to get a move on. The days when drivers observed places of worship, hospitals and the like to go by silently are long gone. Why not make Colombo a horn-free city. One may say that the horn is very essential in this country. If other countries, even Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia can do it, so can we. I have been driving in the city for over 20 years now hardly ever using the horn. It can be done.

Roundabouts

The rule is that you give way to traffic on the right, but what happens is motorists look other way, pretending that there is no traffic on the right and keep going. Road and traffic accidents and traffic congestion are because of the indiscipline of the drivers.

When there are two lanes in one direction the inside lane is a fast lane, but motorists usually hug the inside lane even though the other lane may free.

Hazard lights

Hazard lights are meant to be used when a motorist is stuck on the road or after an accident to warn others that this vehicle is stationary, but in Sri Lanka it is used for an entirely different purpose. The blinking light on the right means turning right, on the left means left turn and both lights blinking is supposed to indicate going straight, a complete misuse of its original purpose.

Flashing lights

Flashing head lights are used by motorists in other countries to indicate the intention to overtake at nights rather than sounding the horns. It is also used by motorists when they want to give way to another driver indicating the other one to go, but in Sri Lanka it is being used by motorists to tell other drivers "I am going, make way", another Sri Lankan innovation.

Traffic lights

If one were to observe in junctions the traffic lights one could see before the change of light at least two or 3 motorists jumping the red light with impunity. This happens even when a traffic policeman is on the spot. In other countries immediately the offender will be booked. One has to stay at a traffic light junction to see at least 25 violations in a matter of 10 minutes.

Double lines

Double lines are marked meticulously on the roads to indicate certain traffic rules. Double lines on the middle of the road means no overtaking or cutting the line, but one may stand on Reid Avenue opposite the University to see this is being done all the time.

Then there are double lines at junctions indicating that one should stop and then go. In some junctions like the Wijerama road - Barnes Place junction there are double lines on the approach of each road. This is to indicate that the motorists must stop and give way to the vehicles arriving there earlier. But if you see at this junctions people on Wijerama road do not stop and go through as though they are on the main road. So what is the use of having double lines?

Box junction

Box Junctions with yellow marking indicate that no one should stop there. But this is completely ignored even when the policeman is there whereby causing traffic congestion. So one may ask why one must spend so much money if one does not observe the line.

Sounding of horn

Sounding of horn as a matter of course is a nuisance in Sri Lanka. In other countries one hardly hears the sounding of horns. Here it is a matter of course and with increasing traffic it also adds to noise pollution. When a traffic light change green, the motorists down the line sound the horn, for what propose one does not know. When in a traffic jam motorists are sounding horns causing irritation to everybody, with no real purpose. Buses are the worst constantly sounding the horns and even blaring the horns approaching a bus stop asking the bus previously.

Traffic policeman

Traffic Policemen are now issued with whistle and walki-talkie, but the way they signal is very innovative. When traffic is moving they keep on swinging their arm as though it is moving because of their swinging. It serves no purpose and if they want the traffic to go faster they think they can do this by moving their arm faster.

Even at the junctions when they want to stop traffic in one direction they just show their hand up and the vehicle nearest to him may stop. But before everyone is stopped he has turned the other way and one could see another driver sneaking through. In other countries policeman points the finger at particular vehicle to make his stop.

Some constables swinging their arms, others swing their hands and even others moving their fingers. What has happened to the graceful sweep of the arm of days gone by? Once I saw a policeman using his arm as though he was rowing a boat. This could only indicate lack of proper training and uniformity in the policeman. Why a walkie talkie. How does it help traffic other than to clear the road for a VIP.

These examples I have given to indicate a total lack of discipline on the road which needs to be addressed. If there is a policeman or two at the traffic light to book every one jumping the red light, this could be stopped within a short time so that there is no breaking of rules. A warning to start with followed by a fine and endorsement on the driving licence as in other countries would certainly improve road discipline and reduce accidents.

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