Taming our wild drivers

MOST of us are shocked by the sheer number of road accidents and fatal deaths that occur every day and this number is alarmingly increasing. This is a severe threat for drivers as well as pedestrians.

According to the traffic police, 2116 persons had died in fatal accidents and 4565 were seriously injured in 2004.

Talking about this trend, Director - Traffic Administration, SSP Lucky Pieris said recently that road accidents in Sri Lanka can be minimised if the drivers were disciplined.

I completely agree with the SSP that individual attitude underlies our horrifying and tragic traffic accident rate: the attitude of motorists to safety, to speed, to alcohol, to the very vehicles they drive and to other road users.

That is why most local traffic experts demand a change in our drivers' attitude.

To this end, I believe a 'carrot and stick' approach would be the ideal: which means, increased enforcement on the one hand with more effective education on the other.

Education

For adults, use can be made of better driver training manuals, higher standards of general driver training and the media, including cinema and television as well as radio and the printed media on a scale hitherto unseen in this country.

The objective must be to make individuals realise that responsibility for our high accident rate rests with them: not with road or vehicle design, lack of Police enforcement or 'other drivers': individuals cause accidents - nothing else. Primary and secondary schools (both public and private) must also be engaged in this ongoing effort.

Enforcement

Better enforcement, I believe, is the other immediate need: speeding, drunken driving, jumping red traffic lights and control of traffic on the roads are the areas of principal concern.

Better discipline among and control of bus and three-wheeler drivers is also strongly recommended as is the need to resolve with determination the question of jay walkers on the road.

Let me give a few suggestions: First, let us create an independent high-powered Traffic Authority within the Police Department, so that it could focus exclusively on traffic work and not get drawn constantly to other duties.

Secondly, let us increase traffic officers and provide them with the necessary modern tools to do their job. Thirdly, let us do a shifting to the private sector, specifically insurance companies, of some of the burden in investigating minor accidents and claims which currently tie up large portions of police time.

Legislation

Our Road Traffic Act is said to be old and very much out of date, despite some amendments. It is understood that a completely revised act is under consideration. It is recommended that this Act be 'fast tracked' so as to become operative as quickly as possible.

Legal apportionment of responsibility must be decided and enforced. The apparently haphazard allocation of liquor outlets and pavement stalls with regard to vehicle density of the area, times of their operation need to be urgently reconsidered.

Inadequacies in existing legislation also make it difficult to secure convictions for drunken driving: this situation must be rectified quickly. We need stricter penalties in order to regain some respect for the authority of the law and also there is a need for the courts to find faster ways of dealing with traffic matters.

Patience

To sum up, let me offer a little advice to the sensible drivers who wish not want to be injured or dead while driving. Although you may feel the need to confront wild drivers many a times, my advice is to stay away from these people. Be patient and keep your cool in traffic.

Never underestimate another person's capacity for mayhem. Your best course of action is to forget about the incident and move on.

Also, do not respond to other drivers' actions with a reaction such as a counterattack or obscene gestures.

If another driver challenges you, take a deep breath, avoid eye contact and safely move out of the way. Do not take another driver's mistakes personally. Try to use your horn sparingly; excessive use will only flame the situation.

Understand that you can't control traffic or the driving of other people. If a situation escalates, don't hesitate to call the police (another good reason to carry a cellular phone with the relevant numbers of the traffic police).