PSC to probe road deaths; Justice minister proposes tough new measures

A one-year suspension of the driving licence is to be considered for those found guilty of driving under the influence of liquor and causing an accident.

The measure is one of the proposals to be made to a parliamentary select committee that Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe wants the Speaker to appoint.

The minister said he had written to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, seeking the appointment of a select committee to reduce road accidents.

In his letter, the minister has drawn the Speaker's attention to accidents that are causing the loss of valuable lives and making people fully or partially handicapped.

He added that due to accidents, the hospital system too has to bear additional costs, affecting the overall economy. He also pointed out that people losing their incomes due to being handicapped following accidents are also affecting the economy.

More than 2,200 accidents and 2,310 accidentrelated deaths occurred last year, with 6,1995 people suffering serious injuries and 9,725 suffering nonserious injuries, the minister said, adding that he had observed that mostly pedestrians and motorcycle riders were killed due to road accidents.

Therefore, the minister said he had requested the appointment of a special select committee of 11 members to reduce the abnormally increasing accidents.

The minister said he also requested that the Speaker call for the select committee's report within four months. In addition, the speaker was also requested to make an order giving powers to the special select committee to operate even when the parliament is under prorogation.

The select committee would be tasked with identifying the reasons that lead to traffic accidents and areas of the law that need to be amended.

The minister said he has called for the enactment of new traffic laws and increases in fines. He said he would push for the implementation of the merit system, which would lead to the temporary and full cancellation of driving licences according to traffic offences committed.