Mental health certificate compulsory to obtain driving licence
A mental health certificate will also be compulsory along with the medical fitness certificate in the issue of driving licences in Sri Lanka, the head of the National Council for Road Safety (NCRS) Dr. Sisira Kodagoda said.
The aim of this initiative is to minimise ever increasing road traffic accidents due to reckless driving in the country, he pointed out.
According to City Traffic Police data, a road traffic accident is reported in Sri Lanka every 10 minutes and two or three persons are injured in such accidents. Every day eight persons die in road accidents injuring 3000 each year.
During the last decade or so there was heavy increase in mobility and motorisation in the country was one of the reasons for rapid influx of unsafe modes of travel on to our roads, he said.
According to medical research studies, mental disorders affect driving behaviour and the incidence of road accidents.
The results revealed that depression, in three levels of minor, mild and major, increased the odds of road accidents by 2.4-fold. Furthermore, with regard to anxiety disorders, particularly obsession disorder, the results revealed that this disorder increased the odds of road accidents by 2.7-fold
Considering the importance and sensitivity of driving behaviour, it is necessary to evaluate multiple psychological factors influencing drivers before and after receiving or renewing their driver’s license, health authorities recommended.
The government has decided to impose a fine of Rs. 25,000 for several motor traffic offences to control the number of accidents, he added.
Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva is to present a cabinet memorandum to the cabinet of ministers seeking its approval to make the mental health certificate compulsory in obtaining the driving licence.
A separate clause has been included in the new Motor Traffic draft (amendment) bill which is to be presented in parliament soon, he disclosed.
Further the police are implementing a programme to encourage disciplined driving by identifying and rewarding disciplined drivers.
Such drivers will be given medical gift vouchers enabling them to get medical checkups free of charge from stipulated private hospitals, City Traffic Police said adding that this was introduced on the directions of IGP Pujith Jayasundara.