Take action to stop road accidents
Six passengers including three women were killed when two buses collided head-on at Waskaduwa Junction in Kalutara on the Galle Road on Sunday morning while 52 others including a child were injured.the police said the accident had occurred due to the negligence of the SLTB driver.
The National Transport Commission was established to ensure a qualitative, cost effective and safe integrated transport system and services, but is it doing enough.
See the number of bus accidents. See the condition of the buses. See the behaviour of bus drivers and conductors. See how they speak to passengers. Are there any rules and regulations? Is there any rule related to overloading? See the number of passengers travelling on the foot board. Is there any method to control reckless driving? Are there any speed limits? Are there proper timetables? Are the timetables reasonable. Can the long distance express buses reach the destination without over speeding?
There are many complaints against those responsible to maintain law and order.
Very often bribes are given. Bus owners are sometimes very powerful people. Sometimes politicians. Sometimes relations of police officers. Very often no action is taken against these buses.
There are complaints that the drivers use illegal drugs. Private buses stop for tea at hotels which provide drivers and conductors free tea and meals. There is very special treatment. There is a special room allocated in the hotel for that purpose. this has to be studied and controlled.
Are there any inspectors employed by the transport commission. How often do they check buses? Are they taking bribes? What are they checking? Have they punished any drivers and conductors?
Are the politicians doing anything to improve the transport sector? What is the minister doing? They are more interested in selecting the next president and in the next general election. They are collecting wealth. They are preparing for they trip abroad. Or they visit temples and other religious places to gain political advantage. I do not think any of these leaders travel in a bus. No wonder that they do not know anything about the bus services.
We kindly request the authorities to improve the transport sector. Regulate it. Control the bus service. there are institutions established for this purpose. their output is zero. there is no discipline. there are no systems. there is corruption. there is political interference. there is negligence. There is wastage. Productivity is very low. All these have to be corrected.
D. WEERATUNGA
NUGEGODA