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Letter:
Highway thugs
I drive daily on the Colombo Kandy Road and have experienced buses,
three-wheelers, motorcyclists and so called higher ups who travel in
luxury government vehicles are a law un to themselves. What you cannot
understand is that these drivers have obtained their driving licences
after passing an examination conducted by the Motor Traffic Department
on a practical driving test and theory. The examination is mainly
focused on how to drive, ride and obey traffic rules and signs and how
best they will follow the rules and regulations in using a public
highway.
In spite of these requirements most drivers who have obtained
competence to drive conveniently disobey all road rules when they are
driving and riding. It is very regrettable that these rules are being
blatantly abused by most of these drivers, specially bus drivers and
three-wheelers and motorcyclists on the eyes of the Police officers who
turn a deaf ear and blind eye.
Occasionally, two Policemen who stand by the wayside nab a driver but
others make the same mistake without being nabbed. The funniest part is
that you will observe Traffic Police at junctions signalling the traffic
by standing on the side or on the pavement at times. They cannot be
noticed by a driver who is on the road.
What I suggest is that the Traffic Police should be performing their
duties so that no one disrespects the law. They should caution the road
user, than nab a stray offender wasting time in making notes and issue
him with a fine notice while the other drivers make the same error and
get away scot-free. This is one reason for the frequent number of
accidents caused by these thugs. These drivers should be nipped in the
bud. It is time that we formulate a system to have a set of disciplined
drivers who obey the law of the land in respect of road rules and
regulations, respect other road users when driving and bring discipline.
It is time the government takes stern action to bring to book these
thugs who violate, all the laws of the land. Otherwise the public will
constantly become victims of these thugs.
- Lenin Jayasinghe Kadawatha |
