Wheels move to minimise accidents
Rasika SOMARATHNA and Priyanka KURUGALA
* At least six die daily in road tragedies
* Carelessness, cause of over 80 pc accidents
The Motor Traffic Department is set to unveil several new measures to
minimise road accidents in the country. These include the removal of
vehicles from roads which are unsuitable for use, a point system to
evaluate traffic offences, improved quality control tests on vehicles,
awareness programmes for drivers and pedestrians and better training at
driving schools.
Motor Traffic Department Commissioner General S H Harischandra said
these measures will be implemented with the help of the Police.
According to the Commissioner, steps will also be taken to enhance
manpower at the department to support the above measures. The department
recruited 52 new motor vehicle examiners recently. They are slated to
undergo a comprehensive training shortly.
According to statistics released by the Police, at least six people
die daily in road tragedies. Over 80 percent accidents occur due to
carelessness. Around 100 -150 road accidents occur daily of which 45
percent are serious.
Harischandra said vehicles not properly maintained and those
categorised as unsuitable to ply on the roads, will be removed and their
revenue licence withdrawn.
The revenue licence of vehicles categorised as not up to required
maintenance standards will only be restored if the owners upgrade their
vehicles to expected standards and prove it to the authorities.
The department is also planning to introduce a point system to
evaluate traffic offences which would be captured in the drivers’
licences designed according to the state-of-the-art smart card
technology. This would store driver information, including points gained
for traffic offences.
According to Harischandra, if a driver exceeds a stipulated mark (24
points within two years - not finalised) his or her driving licence will
be withdrawn until corrective measures have been taken.
“This will encourage drivers to obey road rules and minimise traffic
violations,” Harischandra said.
He said special focus will be laid on enhancing awareness programmes
for both drivers and pedestrians and improving training standards at
driving schools.
The commissioner identified three areas, the driver, condition of the
vehicle and road standard - as the three key elements which lead to an
accident.
“We cannot do much to change the road environment. However, we can
make a difference in the quality of driving standards and the vehicle
and to this end we will do our best,” he added. Harischandra said the
underlying cause of a majority of accidents was carelessness. The
commissioner added that both the driver and pedestrian had a
responsibility to correct their faulty practices.
He stressed the proposed measures will be strictly implemented to
minimise accidents and create a set of disciplined drivers.
In 2010, the year for which the latest statistics are available,
2,721 people died and 26,847 people were injured in road accidents. |