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Increasing road safety and reducing traffic congestion
View(s):An accident is something unintended and often happens due to some intervening circumstance. In the case of motor accidents, such intervening circumstance could be the driver falling asleep, an individual suddenly darting across the road —to name just a few.
There are also other circumstances that give rise to what are described as “accidents”. But many of these cannot really be described as accidents, because the nature of these circumstances are not really unexpected, so as to earn the tag “accident”, because the nature of those circumstances make it a strong possibility for an “accident” to occur. Two examples of these are driving recklessly and driving at excessive speed.
The number of accidents of whatever type on our roads is a matter for concern, with an average of 7-8 persons losing their lives daily, while a large number are injured.
A considerable number of those injured are innocent people such as pedestrians as well as commuters, who played no role in contributing to the accident itself. As a result of such accidents, there is also a considerable cost to the National Health Service.
The reasons for this phenomenon of a large number of accidents are multiple. Three of them could be highlighted here.
The first could be the examination procedure prior to the issue of a Driving Licence (DL). There are serious allegations of corruption, with regard to how DLs are issued. When DLs are issued, as a result of corrupt practices, rather than driving skills, then clearly, the quality of driving on the roads will fall, contributing to the increase in accidents.
The Department of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles should therefore, take steps to curb all forms of corruption connected to the issue of DLs.
The second reason is the failure of some motorists to follow driving rules. They would only observe the rules when there are Traffic Policemen (TP) around, but fail to do so at other times. This amounts to lack of civic responsibility and lack of consideration for the safety of other members of society.
Yet another reason is the lack of adequate policing on the part of the TP. While attention is paid to breaking of rules such as not obeying traffic lights or parking in areas where parking is not allowed, sufficient attention is not paid to other aspects of motor traffic violations.
The efforts of the TP should be directed at changing the driving culture, so that motorists will conform to the rules, irrespective of whether the TP are out on the streets or not. To achieve this, the TP should work consistently over a period of time, to ensure that driving habits of motorists undergo a change.
Unfortunately, the TP usually work only in fits and starts. At one time, the TP started enforcing the rule, whereby motorists should stick to one lane and not change lanes, in several parts of Colombo.
This worked well, resulting in a smooth flow of traffic and also made it easier for motorists, who did not have to drive anticipating that someone would suddenly cut onto his lane unexpectedly. But after sometime the TP stopped enforcing the rule, thus posing problems even for the law abiding motorists.
Constant policing by the TP and advising and counselling motorists while they are on the road, with regard to their observance of road rules, can cause a rise in the quality of driving and, over a period of time, contribute to the reduction in accidents.
TP will have to pay special attention to three categories of motorists and attempt to discipline them. The first are the long distance buses, particularly, when driving through the city, to observe speed limits and traffic rules without criss-crossing lanes, in order to keep to their time schedules.
The second category are the three-wheelers, who are a veritable law unto themselves. While these vehicles play an important part in helping those who do not own vehicles to get about their day to day lives, their road habits leave much to be desired. Often, they drive at speeds that exceed other motor cars on the road, jeopardizing, not only the safety of other road users, but also their own passengers. Speed limits for three-wheelers should be strictly enforced, so as to ensure they do not risk the lives of the very people they are there to serve.
The third category that needs the special attention of the TP are the motorcyclists. Many of them place themselves at great risk, weaving through traffic at considerable speeds, while, at the same time, causing inconvenience to others.
Another area that needs the attention of government is the formulation of a policy, with regard to the import of vehicles. There does not seem to be any rationale in the number of vehicles that are allowed to get on the roads, irrespective of whether the roads have the capacity to absorb such numbers.
The whole issue of the number of vehicles on the road brings up the question of traffic congestion and the cost to the country, as a result of such congestion. The cost of wastage caused to the country by traffic congestion is estimated to be nearly Rs 400 billion, annually.
Fortunately, this is a matter engaging the attention of the Government and various steps are being taken in this regard. The recently launched Port Access Elevated Highway Project is one such measure. The US$ 300 million project will result in an elevated highway that would connect the Kelani Bridge with the Port City helping to reduce the current travel time from the Kelani Bridge to Colombo Fort, from the current 45 minutes to 5 minutes.
Other similar projects are the Outer Circular Expressway, the Central Expressway and the Light Rail project towards Rajagiriya. All these are expected to reduce the cost of congestion to the economy, as well as facilitate better transport for the people.
However, the need to continuously upgrade the quality of driving on the roads is something which needs to be given priority, to ensure the safety of the citizen.
(javidyusuf@gmail.com)