Six lives snuffed out daily in road accidents

Irangika Range

Road accidents kill at least six persons everyday, National Transport Commission (NTC) chairman Roshan Gunawardene said.

The number of road accidents in Sri Lanka during the first half of this year had reached 20,038 with 1,226 deaths.

Roshan Gunawedene

Addressing the second workshop to educate private bus owners, drivers and conductors on road safety in the Puttalam district, Gunawardene said that the number of persons killed in road accidents is very much higher than the deaths caused by the dengue epidemic.

For example, there had been 15 road accidents which killed 18 people by January 28 while there had been only 18 dengue deaths for the entire month of January.

These accidents were reported in Ragama, Wattala, Meerigama, Negambo, Kochchikade, Akuressa, Ahungalla, Payagala, Kurunegala, Kuliyapitiya, Ruwanwella and Mahiyangana on January 28.

The main causes of road accidents were fatigue, high speed and driving under the influence of liquor, violation of road rules, reckless driving and negligence by pedestrians, according to the NTC chairman.

Over half (51 percent) among those killed had been pedestrians, bicycle and motorcycle riders. He said that statistics on road accidents have revealed the need to pay immediate attention to road safety and educate the public regarding traffic rules.

He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa too had underscored the need for urgent action to change this situation and urged the authorities concerned to take stern action against pedestrians as well as drivers who violate traffic laws.

"It is not possible to move ahead on the road to sustainable development without improving the standards of human safety on roads," the chairman said.

He said the NTC had already commenced a series of workshops to educate private bus owners, drivers and conductors on road safety to accomplish this. Bus operators should obey road rules to minimise accidents," the chairman said.

The NTC is committed to safeguard the private bus industry and create disciplined drivers through awareness and training programmes conducted district-wise.

"We are responsible to provide a safe and comfortable transport service to the public," he said.

Gunawardene said the underlying cause of the majority of accidents was carelessness. "Therefore both the driver and the conductor have a responsibility to correct their faulty practices," he said. "We will implement a special mechanism to appreciate the service of good drivers and conductors, he said.

The best driver and conductor will be awarded a brand new car. "The best driver and conductor will be rewarded and their names published in the media, websites and notice boards as well. All drivers and conductors who have successfully completed the training course will be issued with identity cards," Gunawardene said.