Ensure driver discipline and safety
The much awaited extension of the Southern Expressway which was opened for traffic on the 23rd of February is good news to all.
Most drivers in Sri Lanka do not seem to be aware of the basic rules that should be followed to ensure the safety of the passengers though the Southern Expressway was commissioned nearly 7 years ago.
The maximum speed on the Expressway is 100 km per hour. A vehicle travelling at this speed will move 1.6 km or 1666 metres per minute or 27 meters for every second. One second to glance at your phone and the car moves 27 metres within this time ! ‘ No phone’ law should be strictly followed.
Use of seat belts: All passengers should be advised to use seat belts. Police officers at the entry points should ensure this, without merely looking on. Any passenger not wearing a seat belt could become a potential projectile in the event of even a minor impact and cause injury to others too.
Overtaking : After overtaking another vehicle getting back to the left lane should be done only when you are able to see the overtaken vehicle in your rear mirror. Getting back sooner could result in a collision as the overtaken vehicle too travels at a high speed. If the overtaken vehicle travels at 90km, that too would travel 1500 meters for every minute.
Minimum Distance between 2 vehicles : very clear signs advising the motorists to keep a minimum distance of 50 meters between vehicles are displayed at the entry points. 50 metres is equivalent to approximately 10 car lengths.
Non-working rear –lights : Being regular users of the Southern Expressway, we have on many occasions reported to 1969 about trucks & larger vehicles including container carriers plying this route at night with no rear lights, most times not even reflectors. For those drivers not using the high beam head lights out of respect for other drivers, this is a death trap. Before you know the dark shape which has merged into the surroundings with no indicator lights could be the trailer part of a big truck!
Vehicles without functioning lights should ideally be taken out at the next nearest exit point.
The police officers at the entry points have an enormous responsibility to ensure that the vehicles entering the expressway have functioning indicator lights, especially rear lights & make sure that all passengers wear seat belts.
Hope the new President of Sri Lanka, who has given the country a new direction, would take action to discipline the drivers & advise the police to ensure safe travels for all on our expressways.
N. S. GOONEWARDENE, Nawala