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No Tigers, but road terrorists
View(s):By Namini Wijedasa
No longer is terrorism a threat. Today’s travel advisories on Sri Lanka warn of crazed bus drivers and stray cattle than of bomb attacks. With the end of the war in 2009, Sri Lankan road habits have overtaken terrorism as a danger to tourist safety, travel advisories issued by developed countries show. Among their other top concerns are credit card fraud, possible political violence and, to a lesser degree, acts of violent crime against tourists.
“Erratic driving is common and as a result, road accidents are frequent,” Britain’s travel advisory deadpans. “Pedestrians and animals often appear in the road without warning. Vehicles do not stop at pedestrian crossings.”
Britain warns its citizens to be particularly careful while overtaking or when overtaking-vehicles are coming towards them. Meanwhile, driving at night outside Colombo and riding by motorbike are “particularly hazardous”.
“Buses are notorious for driving fast and rarely giving way,” continues the latest advisory. “They are often poorly maintained. A number of serious bus accidents have been reported over recent years.”
The United States travel advisory, updated recently, reveals that US Embassy personnel are prohibited from travelling by public bus in Sri Lanka. It cautions its citizens against taking this mode of transport as they can be targets of criminal activity. And, it adds (rather understatedly) that, “bus drivers do not all obey driving regulations”.
“Narrow two-lane highways, overloaded trucks, poorly driven buses, and a variety of conveyances on the road, ranging from ox carts and bicycles to new four-wheel-drive vehicles, make driving dangerous,” the US advisory states. “Unexpected road blocks and one-way streets are common and may not be clearly marked.”
And while the US accepts that Sri Lanka’s road network is improving, “many roads are still in medium to poor condition, and sidewalks and road crossings in most major towns are congested with vendors, stray dogs, and groups of people loitering on street corners”.
Britain agrees that many roads, particularly outside the major towns, are in a serious state of disrepair. This prevents visitors from being able to travel at speed or comfort. But, it states, there is considerable investment in the redevelopment of the road infrastructure throughout Sri Lanka.
The Australian advisory tells its citizens to “exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka at this time because of the high risk of politically motivated violence”. It also says, “Transport conditions throughout Sri Lanka are hazardous”.
“There is a high number of road deaths and injuries, particularly on inter-city buses and three-wheeler taxis,” it observes. “The standard of driving and vehicle maintenance is poor… There have also been a number of fatal accidents on Sri Lankan railways in recent years.”
Canada states that road accidents, often causing death and injury, are common due to poorly maintained vehicles and erratic driving practices. And France flags left driving, narrow and congested roads, “unpredictable animals” and poorly lit vehicles as challenges to manoeuvring on Sri Lankan routes.
Most countries recommend that tourists hire a vehicle with chauffeur and that those who choose to hire three-wheelers negotiate prices beforehand. While travel advisories had included warnings about traffic conditions in the past, terrorism had been a bigger threat. It is generally accepted that there has been no terrorist activity since the end of the war. But a few countries still discourage non-essential travel to the North and East.
Meanwhile, credit card fraud remains a major worry. “Travellers should consider paying in cash whenever possible, and should carefully review billing statements to ensure that purchases displayed on their credit card statements are accurate,” the US asserts.
Britain says credit card fraud is the most common type of crime affecting visitors. “It is advisable to use cash wherever possible and to use ATMs attached to banks or major hotels,” its advisory says. “Do not let your credit card leave your sight when you use it.”
Australia also alludes to “frequent incidents of credit card fraud”. Calling credit card fraud “common” in Sri Lanka, Canada recommends cash transactions.
Interestingly, some countries say that incidents of violent crime against tourists have risen. “Most violent crime occurs within the local community, although violent crime and sexual assaults directed at foreigners have increased as more tourists have discovered Sri Lanka,” the US says.
Britain avers that “violent crimes against foreigners are relatively infrequent, although there have been an increasing number of reports of sexual offences including on minors”.
France, meanwhile, says it has received complaints of tourists being “fondled in a sexual manner” while receiving body treatments or massages. Its advisory wants citizens to educate themselves about the quality of care institutions and to take necessary precautions.
Despite everything, tourists seem better off in Sri Lanka than in other South Asian nations. The US advisory on India, for examples, is significantly longer and warns against everything from terrorism, insurgencies, demonstrations, general strikes and religious violence to passport theft, “Eve-teasing”, scams, and, yes, dangerous road habits.
And here’s the clincher: “On Indian roads, the safest driving policy is to always assume that other drivers will not respond to a traffic situation in the same way you would in the United States. On Indian roads, might makes right, and buses and trucks epitomise this fact. Buses and trucks often run red lights and merge directly into traffic at yield points and traffic circles. Cars, auto-rickshaws, bicycles, and pedestrians behave only slightly more cautiously.”
“Use your horn or flash your headlights frequently to announce your presence,” the US stresses. “It is both customary and wise”!
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