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| Monday, 11 October 2004 |
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IGP cracks whip on errant motorists by Sarath Malalasekera Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando has declared all out war against errant motorists and has ordered officers to show no mercy against those flouting the highway code. The IGP's edict comes in the wake of an horrendous rise in the spate of road accidents which has taken a heavy toll of life and limb.
The IGP directed all DIGs to come down hard against drunk drivers and speed felons who use the roads as if they were race tracks. The IGP's directive has been communicated through DIG Gamini de Silva in charge of Traffic Arrangement and Road Safety. The new IGP's concern has been roused by the high number of road deaths including at pedestrian crossings, especially a recent death of a 14-year-old school girl at a pedestrian crossing in the city. Road accidents had claimed a large number of lives including those of school children largely brought about as a result of reckless driving. The IGP has also directed all senior officers of the Traffic Police Department to conduct seminars and awareness programs to educate motorists and the public on road safety measures. According to a Traffic Police survey carried out in 2002, 55 per cent of all fatal accidents have been caused by individual vehicles while 'hit and run" fatalities accounted for 12 per cent of road deaths in the Western Province. A shocking revelation is that 222 children were killed in road accidents last year. They were among the thousands of victims of nearly 2000 fatal accidents on the country's roads last year. |
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