Speed breakers or law breakers?

Speed breakers or speed barriers have sprung up in all the roads and by-roads of Colombo without any form of warning signals for the on-coming motorists.

It is pertinent to ask who has authorized the erection of these speed barriers. Is it the Colombo Municipality or the RDA?

While appreciating the safety and security concerns of the residents living along these by-roads, there must be some sort of sign to warn the drivers, like painting the barrier in white or with zebra crossings. The barrier along Queen’s Road in Kollupitiya opposite the late Kumar Ponnambalam’s house is a good example as this is painted in white. The barriers in and along Charlemont Road, Lauries Road near the Church are a real nightmare for the motorists as there are no signs and the barriers are very steep. Barriers sans any form of warning signs will tend to damage the vehicles and again valuable foreign exchange has to be spent for the import of spare parts.

Also these barriers will tend to slow down traffic and create traffic jams. The Municipality with the consultation of the Traffic Police must follow a rational policy in erecting these barriers and should not give into the whims and fancies of the residents. Over to you, Mayor of Colombo.

By P.V.S. Ranjan, Dehiwela