Book Review

'Towards Better Roads' - A.H.M.P. Atapattu

Dr Kolita Weerasekera, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Civil Engineering, Open University of Sri Lanka, has made a valuable contribution in writing a book on an area of study on which there is no reading material at present. At a time when road accidents are developing to be a major destroyer of precious lives and valuable property in our country, the book - 'Towards Better Roads' from an academic who has specialised in Transportation Engineering provides much food for thought particularly for transport policy makers and legislators if road safety is to engage their attention as a national issue.

Although the title of the book gives the impression that the book is focused on road engineering, it discusses some important aspects of road safety which appear to be very important to the relevant authorities, and the general public who use the roadways. These issues need to be addressed as a matter of priority if the public roads are to be made a safer place to travel.

The book which consists of twenty chapters consists of six parts namely, Road safety: Defensive driving; Roads for cyclists: Three-Wheelers and its compatibility; Traffic management; Transport policies and environment.

Traffic accident trends especially the fatal accidents and the number of persons becoming disabled daily, as published in Police statistics are on an alarming upward trend and need to be addressed by the authorities as a national priority than at present. If this trend is to be arrested, the Road Development Authority should develop a mechanism to obtain the views of the experts and the public, develop a national policy and a programme of action. The issues dealt with by the author as listed below would prove much useful as source material for such a course of action.

* A national road safety plan in improving the behaviour of all road users.

* Development of a safety education programme for schoolchildren.

* Improving the safety at pedestrian crossings.

* Strategies that can be adopted to reduce the road accidents.

* Training on defensive driving and checking of offensive driving.

* Steps to be taken to reduce excessive speeding.

* National plan for the safety of cyclists.

* Eligibility of three-wheelers as a safe mode of transport.

* Noise pollution and air pollution on roads.

In stressing the need for a long term transport vision for the country Dr. Weerasekera states. "The recent establishment of the National road safety bureau to look in to the road safety aspects is a prudent step towards the road safety improvement. Now it is high time to work on a 'Road safety plan" on a nation wide basis, towards the development of long term road safety programme."

At the rate the road accidents are increasing, it is dreadful to think of the situation in another ten or fifteen years time. It is doubted that whether financial costs and the immense pain and suffering on our community due to these road accidents have ever been estimated."

His recommendations to reduce the number and severity of accidents are: constant speed checks, random breath testing and introduction of seat belts; introduction of a black spot treatment programme etc. he states, "Although this is a major challenge to achieve, the road safety plan should target the following three vital areas for treatment.

* Road user behaviour.

* Standard of vehicles.

* Road conditions."

On 'improving the road conditions' he suggests the introduction of speed regulation boards at regular intervals. A number of issues that need to be addressed in a road safety plan have also been discussed. In the development of a 'safety education programme for schoolchildren' he recommends the introduction of a curriculum which helps to educate the schoolchildren in road discipline and safety education, from year one onwards.

Commenting on the safety at pedestrian crossings he states "locations where crossings are marked have become more dangerous places to cross the road at than unmarked road stretches as pedestrians think that they have priority over on coming vehicles and some drivers give any considerations for the pedestrians. His suggestion to introduce crossings with raised platforms in urban areas I am sure, will be welcome by the public.

In analysing the road accidents from year 1981 to 2005 he identifies the main causes as, Speeding; negligence of road rules; Drunk and driving; fatigue and poor condition of vehicles and roads. "Drivers should avoid fatigue by planning their schedules before starting on a long journey, by stopping for appropriate rest breaks".

His suggestion to conduct a Defensive Driving Training Programme aiming at drivers especially for passenger carrying vehicles will be welcomed by all citizens who value the safety of their lives. Applicants for licences to drive heavy vehicles and for three - wheelers should be required to obtain a certificate from the Police that, they do not have any previous criminal records. Such a requirement appears to be more necessary in the case of three-wheelers as it has developed to be a valuable tool in the commission of many types of grave crime.

The author's suggestions for Defensive Driving and speeding spelt out in chapters 7 and 8, in my view should attract the attention of all persons who are driving vehicles on our public roads. They appear to be a set of golden rules which those seated behind steering wheels should learn to observe in their own interest as well as for the safety of precious lives of other road users. Stopping distance when driving at different speeds should be valuable to any driver who commenced driving without knowing the golden rules.

The growing menace of noise pollution one experiences on public roads too has been referred to in this publication. "Noise is often defined as an 'unwanted sound' and in a civilised society every effort should be taken to eliminate this unwanted sound by taking necessary precautions."

Dr. Kolitha Weerasekera who has been writing regularly to the press highlighting these issues for several years, has done a valuable contribution by publishing this volume. While congratulating him on this pioneering contribution, I hope that the policy makers in the transport sector would carefully study this publication and pick up at least a few of the proposals made and implement them as a part of a broad transport policy to ensure that our roads do not become places of 'no return' to all users whether they are on wheels or on foot.

The writer is a senior supritendent of police.