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Citizens’ Mail
There are a number of incompetent drivers who are a danger on the
roads. The tendency today is to learn to drive as quickly as possible
because this category has many employment opportunities both here and
overseas. Private agencies known as 'Learners' cater to this urgency.
They obtain for their clients, the Certificate of Competency for a
package price irrespective of whether competency is reached or not.
Initially, a temporary permit called the 'Learners Permit' is issued
under Sect. 122 (A) of the Motor Traffic Act valid for a period of three
months. When the alarming rate of accidents was reported almost daily in
the media, 'Learners' were called upon to register with the government.
Today it has been made a requirement that they must obtain prior
approval of the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic to practice as
'Learners'.
There is evidence of a youth, Arthur, who had undergone training on
nine days at approximately 15 mts. a day for three months with a
briefing regarding the questions that would be asked by the Examiner and
the answers to be given. At the trial with the presence of the trainer
in the vehicle, he had driven a distance of 150 yds approximately. He
now possesses a Certificate of Competence, for a package of Rs. 14,500.
Cannot Arthur become one of the next 'Dare Devils' to crash onto a
closed rail gate, like the stunt at Walakumbura in Polgahawela or cannot
he become like the one who somersaulted down a 200 ft.
precipice with 65 on board in the bus at Sita Eliya? The registration
of Learner organisations alone does not suffice, if that registration is
not to conduct a course of training prescribed by the State, which
should definitely include training coupled with teaching.
In the present context it is dangerous to rely on the training given
by the wayside humbugs who hoodwink innocent applicants ignorant of
their gimmicks.
We rarely heard of accidents during the by-gone era because vehicles
were driven with meticulous care and respect to all and with strict
observation of road rules. An accident when they were at the wheel, came
to be an 'unexpected event'.
Today, 'accidents' turned 'incidents' are a regular feature on
highways all over the country and are expected at any moment, mainly
because the majority of drivers are incompetent.
It is a concept among people that a driver must always be on a low
grade with no recognition. This misconception descended from the days of
suppression when our people were influenced by Western power and
culture. This disparity must be dispensed with forthwith and the
position of this category of people must be elevated to the position of
a responsible class by way of education and training by professionals,
not by 'Learners'.
Today our country is transforming into a blooming new world and it is
necessary to have professionals in driving, to work in the age we live
in. There is also a need for educated personnel fluent in the three
languages to function as drivers. As there is an influx of foreigners,
fluency in many languages as possible is becoming compulsory. Also as
high speed roads are being constructed, competent drivers are necessary
to work at that speed. For this purpose, sensible and conscious drivers
have to be produced.
Some time ago, there was a plan to establish a Driver Training
Institute in collaboration with the Japanese, but nothing came forth. It
is time now to implement this proposal and equip the country with an
educated class of drivers. Drivers who come out of this institute must
be equipped with knowledge and know-how like the Cadet Officers of the
Defence Academy, to form a new society of drivers with patience, caution
and responsibility in mind.
L.A.W. LIYANA ARACHCHI
KADAWATA
The most devastating news heard of recently through the media is
about accidents at unprotected railway crossings.
The question that arises is as to who is responsible for safeguarding
unprotected railway crossings. Is it the railway authorities or the RDA?
Another question is, as to who came first.
Was the road first laid or the railway line first laid? I think if
the road was first laid and the railway line laid later, the railway
authorities are responsible for installing protected railway crossings.
What matters most is the loss of human lives. These days, although
there is a massive protest against the slaughter of bulls, the loss of
human lives at unprotected railway crossings has not received due
attention of the public. It is time that some initiative is taken to
remedy this situation.
A suggestion has been made to let the public know as to the number of
unprotected railway crossings and what amount of money will be required
to install guarded railway crossings.
If this is made public, I am sure some philanthropists in this
country will come forward to donate finances in the interest of human
lives.
The immediate action I suggest, is to put a fairly high ‘hump’ on
either side of level crossings, so that there will be a must for all
vehicles to brake before passing unprotected level crossings.
PADMA KARUNATILLEKE
COLOMBO 5
The latest train tragedy which claimed six innocent lives, occurred
at Aluthgama a few days back. The occurrence of this type of accidents
is now a common feature, which the authorities do not seem to give any
serious attention to.
The Railway Department which was in a slumber all these years, lost
no time in installing a gate overnight after valuable lives were lost.
It is a fact that these accidents happen mainly due to the carelessness
of vehicle drivers.
Train drivers are unable to halt their rolling stock at the mere
sight of a vehicle crossing the rail track.
It is the bounden duty of the highway and railway authorities to
provide protection to people at all these vulnerable points.
Highways are being developed at unprecedented speeds all over the
country. The planners of these projects should give thought to the
provision of protective devices at these unprotected crossings, when
they prepare their estimates.
When these provisions at later stages are taken randomly and
singularly, the problem of finance surfaces. Had they been made part and
parcel of the main estimate, the costs would be negligible.
Another disturbing feature is the unauthorized structures spread
almost on railway lines near railway crossings.
Vehicle drivers are unable to have a clear view of the rail track
unless they stop in the middle of the track. When pavements were
cleared, these unauthorized structures should also have been abolished.
The government must mobilize its authority to compel big time
conglomerates and blue chip companies to alienate a fraction of their
billions of profits to construct a few railway protection devices each
year. According to the media, there are about 600 to 700 unprotected
railway crossings in the country. Even if one million rupees is spent on
a single crossing, 600 million will be peanuts for the elite companies
and the commercial banks.
As an encouragement, the government could reciprocate by giving a tax
relief for such expenditure and also as a gesture of appreciation, such
establishments could be allowed to display a hoarding or any other
advertisement material of their choice at any location nearby, to
advertise their products or service.
J. NAGODAVITHANA
NUGEGODA
There was a news telecast about policemen in the Northern areas
demanding bribes from drivers, to allow their lorries to proceed without
delay. We also have seen and read of instances of criminals being
arrested by the police, only after constant public and Opposition
protests. These certainly are scars on the police. Simultaneously, the
arresting of the suspects who mostly were from the police including a
very senior officer, for the murder of a wealthy businessman recently
has carried public applause. The CDB and the CID are very capable of
detecting criminal activities. Their intelligence officers could show
better skills than Interpol, if not for interference.
The businessman’s murder too would have been a mystery if not for the
President’s instructions to the IGP to investigate the matter, as
reported in the press. With regard to bribe taking cops, the Police
department should put a halt to it. If Bribery Commission sleuths are
deployed in disguise as cleaners, these corrupt cops could be nabbed
easily. Also all the trouble taken, time spent, money, risks etc, in
netting them will be useless if the punishment is not harsh.
Interdiction or a transfer to a remote area will only make them repeat
the same offence and discipline will fail in the police.
NAZLY CASSIM
COLOMBO 13
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