Sunday Times 2
On the road to better driving
View(s):When I holidayed in Sri Lanka late last year, nearly two years after my previous visit, I noticed that some things in Colombo appeared to have changed for the better. One of those improvements involved traffic conditions and road behaviour by most motorists and other road-users, including pedestrians.
Now, those of you who live in Sri Lanka and battle vehicular traffic on a daily basis will probably scoff and laugh at what I’ve just said. But I believe my pair of eyes is more capable of discerning differences than those of people who are immersed in the daily cut and-thrust of motoring in Sri Lanka, especially in Colombo. It’s like the parents of a child who don’t notice how much their child has grown until someone who hasn’t seen the child for a few months points out the changes since they last saw that child.
One of the things I noticed is that most Sri Lankan road-users tend to be more observant than before of pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, road signs, and other traffic control devices. Sure, there are always going to be the exceptions who try to push the barrier of the rules and try to get away with their boorish behaviour behind the wheel or handlebars of a motor vehicle. But, for the most part, I would like to think that Sri Lankan motorists are finally learning how to drive. By that I mean not just how to start the engine of a motor vehicle, put it into gear, and start off and stop it hopefully without causing an accident. Rather, by ‘learning to drive’ I mean the operation of a motor vehicle in a safe manner, with the motorists’ due consideration and regard for the safety and comfort of other road-users and even themselves and their 
passengers.
If indeed there has been a positive shift in the way Sri Lankan motorists conduct themselves on the road, it is probably because of better education in road rules and safety. An example of this effort is the booklet Traffic Signs: Road Marking and Traffic Signals (Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020) written and published by T. Perinp-anayagam. A retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (Traffic), for many years the author has been at the forefront of promoting road safety and better road behaviour by motorists and pedestrians. As Director of the institute of Road Traffic Education, he has received international and national awards for his untiring efforts in this often thankless area of endeavour.
This latest booklet, which follows others he has written and published on the subject, seeks to promote the aims and principles of the ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020′ fostered by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011 with the alms of better road safety management, road user behaviour, and even post-crash care, among other goals. It is an attractively presented handbook for everyone who needs to know everything about road signs, markings, and rules for safe driving on Sri Lankan roads.
Divided into chapters, such as ‘The Road Traffic Signing System,’ ‘Speed Limits’, etc. the book uses colourful illustrations and accompanying text to explain what each sign of rule means – in easy-to-understand, unambiguous language. Much more interesting than the Highway Code booklets of an earlier era. Mr. Perinpanayagam’s latest publication is of even greater benefit and effectiveness to the reader thanks to its supplementary use of good-quality colour photos of various road scenes and situations. Some of those photos depict the Southern Expressway, which has presented an entirely new setoff conditions, rules, speed limits, and road behaviour for Sri Lankan motorists.
Mr. Perinpanayagam must be congratulated for compiling this handy publication. Reasonably priced, it is a must for anyone who uses Sri Lankan roads, motorists and pedestrians alike.
The book is available in Sinhala, Tamil and English at the Institute of Road Traffic Education No. 1A, Alexandra Terrace, Colombo 6. Tel: 2597043
Book facts
Traffic Signs, Road Marking and Traffic Signals: Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011 – 2020 by T. Perinpanayagam; Institute of Traffic Education, Colombo 6. Price Rs. 250. Reviewed by Roger Thiedeman