Drop in number of fatal accidents

Irangika RANGE and Sandasen MARASINGHE

The number of fatal road accidents due to high speed driving and driving under the influence of liquor or drugs had reduced to 1,661 upto September 30 last year in comparison to 2,157 accidents reported in 2008, Chief Government Whip and Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunewardena said.

Responding to an oral question raised in Parliament yesterday by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera, Minister Gunawardena said 2,176 and 2,065 fatal accidents had occurred due to high speed driving and driving under influence of liquor or drugs in 2007 and 2006.

The total number of road accidents, fatal and non-fatal had reduced to 23,903 upto September 30 last year compared to the total number of 30,420 reported in 2008.

Minister Gunewardena said 3,199 accidents had taken place due to driving vehicles at high speed upto September 30 last year compared to 4,272 cases in 2008. Meanwhile, 1,047 accidents had occurred due to drunk driving upto September 30, 2009 while it was 1,522 cases in 2008.

The Minister said that 436 persons died while 1,060 persons were injured or disabled due to high speed driving upto September 2009.

The Minister further said the Government has taken a number of measures to prevent road, accidents.

Among them, was a program to educate schoolchildren, public and drivers through educational programs and conducting special operations to institute cases against the traffic offences.