Letter
Road accidents on the rise
Road accidents in this country are very frequent and on the increase.
Six innocent people died on the spot on Dambulla road a few days ago.
Twenty schoolchildren were also seriously injured a few days ago in
Kandy.
Main reason for this is the reckless driving of private bus drivers.
Private bus drivers are responsible for more than 90 per cent of the
road accidents in this country.
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A speeding bus has met with a tragic fate. File photo |
The Police have allowed this to take place. Now the Traffic Police do
not stop and charge the high speeding drivers. No fines are imposed on
reckless high speeding drivers.
In all the countries in the world speeding drivers are charged and
fines are imposed but not in Sri Lanka. Can we allow this situation to
continue without taking drastic action?.
Most drivers are between 20 to 25 years. They don't realize the value
of human lives. Can two big buses race on the Galle Road? Is the Galle
Road beyond Panadura upto Kataragama wide enough for two buses to go on
a race? Then what is the plight of the vehicle plying on the opposite
direction?
As a person residing by the Galle Road I witness this almost daily
right throughout the day. They have the habit to overtake any vehicle
specially when there is another bus in front or behind. They attempt to
win the race risking the lives of the innocent passengers. Actually you
become a hostage of the bus crew when you get into a private bus.
There are so many institutions to look into these problems. But the
question is are they doing their best to curtail road accidents in Sri
Lanka?
The Police Department, The Transport Ministry of the Central
Government, the Provincial Transport Ministries, the National Transport
Commission are there to look in to the safety of passengers and
pedestrians.
I would like to propose the following to curtail the road accidents:
s Immediately impose the law to catch speeding drivers
s Amend the laws in issuing driving licence
s The minimum age limit of a heavy vehicle driver should be 35 years
s The person getting a driver's licence must have attended school for
at least 10 years
s Impose Rs. 5,000 fine if caught driving exceeding the speed limits
s Cancel the driver's licence immediately if found guilty after a
serious accident
s Stop all TV and cassette and radio music in passenger vehicles
(This is a headache for passengers)
s Educate drivers and conductors on the code of conduct
s Prohibit drivers talking to people seated on the front footboard.
Stop carrying passengers on footboards.
I hope the authorities will take action to safeguard the innocent
passengers travelling in buses and other vehicles and pedestrians.
C.S. Samarasinghe
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