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Sand tippers destroy lives while speeding to help build livelihoods
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Death and destruction: Tipper accident in Laggala that killed a mother and son duo. Pix by Kanchana Kumara
Reckless, hit-and-run drivers take a heavy toll of motorists and pedestrians on roads that are already filled to capacity. Nadia Fazlulhaq reports
Last week reported three-fatal accidents caused by speeding tipper lorries, or tippers, loaded with sand mined from rivers, and driven by reckless drivers.
One such speeding tipper killed a mother and son on the spot, when it hit the motorcycle they were riding on July 26, around 5.30 a.m. Sumith Shantha Bandara (23) and his mother Anula Kumari (42) were on the Hettipola-Naula Road, Laggala, returning home after dropping a younger sibling at school, as he was going on a school trip.
Unfortunately, the driver had fled the scene and the Laggala police are still on the lookout for the hit-and-run suspect. Angered villagers of Laggala staged demonstration in the area against tippers that have been claiming lives, causing injuries, polluting the environment and damaging roads for a number of years. Polonnaruwa, Matale, Kurunegala districts and Mahiyanganaya are some of the worst affected areas.
“Daily our roads are full of tipper lorries transporting sand from the Mahaweli River. Now, riding a cycle can be a deadly, with speeding lorries,” said K. Sugathapala, a resident near Gomahandiya in Laggala, where the accident took place. In a similar accident in Matugama this week, a 14-year-old boy was killed on the spot, when a speeding tipper hit him while he was crossing the road.
Rumesh Lakshan: Victim of the Matugama accident.
On July 29, Rumesh Lakshan, a Grade 8 student of Ananda Shastralaya, Matugama, met with the unfortunate accident at a pedestrian crossing.
He was crossing the road with his friend to board a bus home. The driver had not stopped the vehicle even after hitting the student. However, the suspect driver and the lorry have been taken into custody by the police.
Residents in these areas complain that sand transportation from the Kalu Ganga and quarries nearby, has hundreds of lorries and tippers travelling on these roads at high speed, causing numerous fatal accidents. People in the area now control traffic in the area. Another person was killed and 10 injured when a tipper carrying sand crashed onto a bus near the Galewela-Colombo road. For the force of the crash, the tipper had dragged the bus onto a wall which collapsed on impact.
The deceased a 33-year-old man from Bulanawewa, died on the spot, while the injured were rushed to Dambulla Hospital.Police spokesman SP Buddhika Siriwardena said that these lorries that transport sand violate a number of road rules, on top of speeding. “These lorry drivers have a network, when one gets to know of a police patrol deployed in a certain area, they communicate with the other drivers by flashing their lights while passing each other. Therefore, we have decided on impromptu inspections and mobile patrols both from police divisions and ranges,” the spokesman said.
He also added that the police, along with the Motor Traffic Dept, will also conduct vehicles assessments for their road worthiness. According to National Road Safety Council Chairman, Gamini Ekanayake when issuing licenses for heavy vehicles and passenger vehicles, there should be a more intense study, especially focusing on road safety, self-discipline and respect for passengers and pedestrians.
“We have been requested to train petroleum bowser drivers. Every provincial council should take responsibility and conduct continuous awareness programmes. It is impossible to deploy police every few metres,” he said. He said that the Council, which compensates victims of hit-and-run accidents, will increase its compensation due to the increase in accidents.
“Previously it was Rs. 50,000 for the deceased, which was increased to Rs, 100,000. However, with the increase in the of number of hit-and-run incidents, especially outstation, we have decided to increase the fine by at least another Rs 50,000,” he said. The sand contractor first gets his licence after Provincial Council (PC) approval, and renews it by paying a fee and producing a vehicle fitness certificate.
Motor Traffic Commissioner Harischandra said that PCs should be strict when it comes to road worthiness of vehicles, as there are complaints of vehicles not fit for sand transportation. The permit issued for sand mining along major river banks is given by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau. Every month the Bureau issues about 30,000-35,000 transport licences, of which about 80% are for sand transportation.
Sri Lanka’s annual requirement of sand is 9-10 million cubic metres. With the increase in demand, a cube of sand (2.83 cu.metres) that cost Rs 500 in 1999 now costs Rs 8,500. With effect from August 1, tippers transporting sand from Polonnaruwa and Matale districts and Hasalaka and Mahiyanganaya areas to Colombo, will be allowed to do so only from 7 p.m to 6 a.m.
Bureau Chairman Senerath Jayasundare said this decision was taken due to the high number of complaints on road congestion.“Licences to transport from these areas will be issued with a condition that transportation is permitted only at night,” he added. According to the Bureau, about hundred fatal accidents involving sand tippers have been reported during the past few years.
Mr. Jayasundare said weighing equipment will be installed at several points, to ensure the vehicles carry the recommended weight. “Overloaded vehicles when travelling on heated roads in the daytime, can also damage roads, due to the intense heat,” he added. (Additional reports by Dodangoda Correspondent Ratnasiri Premalal and Laggala correspondent Mahesh Keertiratne)
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