AAC launches road safety programme for motorcyclists
The issue of wearing helmets by motorcyclists is apparently becoming an issue, specially the full face helmets as there are a spate of robberies committed by the thieves wearing helmets, while the law requires the rider as well as the pillion rider to wear helmets. Police recently said they were enforcing rules that the visor should be removed to clearly see the face.
The vital importance of wearing the helmet by motorcyclists is felt very much as the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) with the assistance of the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) is planning a Road Safety Programme – “Motorcyclist” – Safer Ride for All.
At a media briefing held in Colombo this week by the AAC to announce this Road Safety programme, Jean Todt, President, FIA from France, told reporters that there were motorcycle riders without helmets and drivers without wearing safety belts on the road and this comment apparently reflects a lacuna in the law enforcement network.
This road safety campaign specially targeting motorcyclists is launched by AAC under the FIA Road Safety Grant Programme and is held from 5 to 11 May in Colombo, Kandy and Kamburupitiya.
On the sidelines of the press briefing, Mr. Todt told the Business Times (BT) that road safety could be ensured when several aspects are fulfilled but if it is the fulfilling of basic elements of road safety such as wearing the safety belt, wearing the helmet by motorcyclists, adhere to speed limits, avoid driving after consuming liquor, respecting laws, not to use telephones while driving or riding, etc.
He said that training of drivers and motorcyclists, educating all the road users, road infrastructure, checking the conditions of the vehicles and checking the pressure in the tyres are also important in road safety, but he said they are all elementary requirements.
At the media briefing he said that he came to Sri Lanka about four years ago and the road safety conditions compared to then has seen a lot of improvements.
Deputising for the DIG Traffic Police, Inspector H.M.S. Dissanayake from the Traffic Police said for the years 2010 to 2013 the number of detections of motorcyclists riding without helmet was 489,504. Despite these detections and fines imposed, the number of motorcycle fatal accidents was 949 and grievous injuries accidents – 1909. He said that the law requires both the rider and the pillion rider in motorcycles to wear helmets and riding without a helmet is an offence.
He also noted that the Traffic Police has conducted a large number of awareness programmes for drivers and riders, pedestrians, school children, private sector and government sectors and the three armed forces.