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Police to enforce strict rules during the season to curb road accidents
The increasing number of road accidents countrywide has prompted the police to take strict measures during the upcoming festive season.
The vehicle driven by the intoxicated driver, who was involved in two accidents in Mount Lavinia and Ratmalana that resulted in four deaths on December 9.
According to police statistics around eight people die daily from motor accidents.
According to the statistics, this year, the number of accidents up to September stands at 2269 with 2368 deaths.
Among the measures to be taken, is the deployment of 2,500 police constables on the roads countrywide, an increase of 500 cops compared to the festive season last year.
DIG (Traffic) Ajith Rohana said the main cause of fatal accidents in the recent past was motorists driving under the influence of liquour and drugs.
Last week, an intoxicated driver knocked down 8 people killing three and injuring five in two accidents within minutes of each other. The driver who was travelling towards Beruwala from Colombo, around noon on December 9, first knocked down three pedestrians in Mount Lavinia killing one person and injuring two. The driver who failed to stop then collided with a car and two motor cycles near a fuel station in Ratmalana. A motor cycle rider and the driver of the second car succumbed to their injuries. Three pedestrians and two riders had been hospitalised.
The special festive season operation that began yesterday will include random breathalyser tests. The programme will conclude on January 5.
DIG Rohana said, this time, offenders will not be able to get away by paying a fine, but will be arrested and produced in court. Police Headquarters will prepare a stat sheet every morning on the number of drunk-driving accidents and any bail will have to be obtained from the courts, he added.
Police will also make a special request to courts to suspend the driving licences of traffic offenders who plead guilty and withhold the licences of those who plead not guilty until investigations are completed. The vehicles will also be produced in court, the DIG said.
Police also request the public to park their vehicles in proper parking areas this festive season without causing a hindrance to traffic. Vehicles parked in unauthorised places will be towed away and will be released only after the payment of a towing fee, DIG Rohana said.
Meanwhile, the National Council for Road Safety (NCRS) chairman Dr. Sisira Kodagoda, too, attributed the increase in traffic accidents to reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He said one of the main problems he saw was that young people do not like being second to anyone on the road and overtake vehicles on the wrong side. Many motorists also pay very little heed to road rules and signs.
He said the NCRS had brought down three emulators from Japan to train bus drivers and three wheeler drivers.
He also said plans were underway to computerise the hitherto written test on road rules, when obtaining a driving licence. A touch screen system will be introduced to answer the questions to eliminate irregularities that could crop up during paper marking.
However, he said, a move to outsource some practical exams conducted by the Department of Motor Vehicles to the Sri Lanka Transport Board and the Automobile Association of Sri Lanka, had to be shelved because of opposition from the Motor Examination Union who has sought legal action, he said.
Statistics show that, in the first nine months of this year, 722 pedestrians, 778 motorcyclists, 153 pillion riders, 186 drivers and 189 persons on push bicycles were killed in road accidents. In addition, 333 passengers have lost their lives while travelling in cars, three wheelers, vans and buses.
President Maithiripala Sirisena, last week, directed all stakeholders to take action to reduce motor accidents. He stressed on the importance of bringing in new laws and drafting amendments to existing laws.
Additional policemen in the city
Commenting on additional security during the season, Police Spokesman S.P Ruwan Gunasekara said an additional 450 policemen have been deployed to patrol shopping centres in the city.
A senior police officer at the Pettah Police also said around 70 policemen have been deployed in Pettah, the busiest shopping hub this time of the year. He said police were also currently making public announcements about the consequences of breachig the law.
Police are also requesting the public, to be extra cautious when handling fire crackers.