Deadly traffic arrangements

This letter is written with the hope that the traffic DIG, the IGP as well as other authorities will take notice. The new traffic arrangements that have been put in place in some roads of Colombo city are going to get people killed.

The one way flow of traffic on Thurstan Road (Munidasa Kumaratunga Mw.) has now led to motorists driving at break neck speed on all sides of the road. The traffic police have done this without thinking about the deadly results for those who work in offices and children and teachers of the University of Colombo and Thurstan College among others. We who have to cross Thurstan Road on a daily basis are scared as killer motorists and maniac bus drivers do not stop at the crossings to allow pedestrians to cross.

The set of traffic lights opposite the Indian High Commissioner’s house have to be operated by pedestrians who wish to cross the road but the lights cannot be operated by those who come from the side of the University of Colombo. Even when someone from the other side of the road gets the lights to work, the motorists who know that this is operated by pedestrians do not stop most of the time.

Unless something is done to ensure the safety of those who have to cross the road very soon, most likely either a school child, a teacher or an undergraduate will get killed.

We have informed the traffic cops on duty on this road about this but there is no positive result. If a serious accident happens on this road the traffic police will be responsible. Given the maniacs we have on our roads it will happen. Already two accidents involving vehicles have taken place there in the first week of December. One person nearly died while trying to avoid a car while on the pedestrian crossing opposite Thurstan College. Take action before another accident happens.

A group of people who have to cross Thurstan Road