News
Don’t speed: New laws from next month
View(s):By Damith Wickremasekara
The implementation of the speed limit regulations for motor vehicles which were held back following a Supreme Court ruling more than four years ago are to be reimplemented from January.
Motor Traffic Commissioner General S.M. Harishchandra said the required Gazette notification defining speed limits on all roads in Sri Lanka was ready while the Road Development Authority (RDA) was ready with the sign boards on speed limits.
“We only have to inform the Supreme Court that preparations have been made to implement the law and then inform the Police,” he said.The then Chief Justice Sarath N Silva in a 2008 ruling ordered that all illegal sign boards of speed limits be pulled down as there were varying sign boards confusing the motorist.
Earlier confusion was caused as the speed limit boards did not properly specify the location where a particular speed limit was in operation.
Mr. Harishchandra said the new gazette notification would specify the area where the speed limits would be in operation. Accordingly the speed limit in the built-up areas including the Colombo city and main towns would be 50 kilometres an hour. In the non-built up areas, the speed limit for cars and vans will be 70 KMPH and for motor coaches and lorries 60 KMPH.
RDA Chairman R.W.R. Premasiri said sign boards required for the entire country were ready and would be fixed from next month. Police Traffic Chief K. Arasaratnam said discussions had been held and he was awaiting the Gazette notification to enforce the speed limits.
During the past four years, the police — due to the court order – had been fining drivers on charges of reckless driving and not for violating speed limits.
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