Delay in erecting warning sign boards on speeding stalls new speed limits rules
The implementation of new speed limits on Sri Lankan roads has been delayed until road conditions are improved and warning signs against speeding on roadsides installed, city traffic police sources said.
The Road Development Authority (RDA) is preparing these warning signs indicating the speed limits stipulated in new legislation passed in parliament last year.
Police don’t catch speed fiends anymore owing to an old Supreme Court ruling. The prosecution of drivers for speeding under the Motor Traffic Act cannot be carried out until warning signs are erected against on both sides of roads sequel to a Supreme Court order issued in 2008, a senior city traffic police officer told the Business Times.
That order was issued by then Chief justice Sarath N. Silva after hearing a petition filed by an accused driver claiming that if drivers are to be prosecuted for speeding, warning signs of speed limits should be displayed appropriately in relevant areas like in western countries.
Since then, the police are only taking action against reckless driving, he said.
The Attorney General has advised the police not to use speed guns on roads except express highways where there are warning signs (as per Supreme Court guidance) on speeding, he added.
The relevant Gazette notification stipulating new speed limits has been published by the Motor Traffic Department (MTD) and the RDA is preparing sign boards properly indicating the location where a particular speed limit was in operation, a senior MTD official revealed.
The prevailing speed limit for light vehicles is a maximum of 60 kilometres per hour (KMPH) within urban areas and 70 KMPH outside city limits.
For lorries and heavy vehicles the limit is 50 to 60 KMPH and for motorcycles and three-wheelers it is 40 KMPH.
This has been revised under the new legislation with the speed limit for cars and vans in the built-up areas including the Colombo city and main towns being 50 KMPH, as against 40 currently.
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.
Speed limits differ depending on the type of road as for A (trunk) and B (main) roads belonged to the RDA whereas C, D and E roads belonged to Provincial Councils and the other roads come under the purview of Local Government bodies. The byroads in Colombo belong to the Colombo Municipal Council.