I do not for a moment claim that no criticism should be made against policemen. Policemen are also human beings and like in all other organizations and societies there are the good and the bad. Let us accept that the percentage of the good in any society,

ed the traffic rules? If you violate the traffic rules you should not try to get away by bribing the police, but should face the court and accept whatever punishment meted. On one side you offer a bribe to escape the court case and then blame the policeman for accepting the bribe for you to escape the court case. Why shouldn’t all the drivers resolve not to violate the traffic rules such as overtaking on the left and right, speeding, driving under the influence of liquor, driving without a licence, etc., without resorting to bribing the police?

Travails of a traffic cop

I wonder whether the so called gentlemen drivers and those who make allegations against the police, especially against traffic cops, are aware that every policeman on duty at every traffic light junction, every intersection both in the city and suburbs, especially in Colombo city, Battaramulla, Mount Lavinia and the Kelaniya area, perform on an average more than 12 hours duty at a time. They have to get up in the early hours of the morning and be at their posts by 6 am or 7 am directing traffic using both arms and blowing the whistle which is eternally in their mouths. May I ask the drivers and those who criticize the police to go to a corner in their gardens and pretend that they are doing traffic duty, using both arms for 15 minutes or so continuously, and see how they feel. The traffic cop is at his point of duty in the sun and rain, inhaling all the environmental pollution, tolerating verbal abuse by drivers, and violators of traffic laws. They continue their duties for a period of more than eight hours in these conditions. It is reliably learned that most of the traffic cops have indicated to their superiors that they would like to be transferred out of the Traffic Branch as they find it difficult to continue for such long hours for months and months, and also face health hazards. Now I find that the Police Department has supplied masks to prevent inhalation of polluted air etc., which is commendable. I recollect a single elderly traffic sergeant in his pair of shorts and tunic controlling traffic at Bristol Street, Fort, in the year 1960 or so. He used to walk from the clock tower junction up to Bristol Street, York Street and go around controlling traffic and I cannot recollect any traffic jam. I agree that in the period of 1960 the traffic congestion in the entire country was less than today. I must also mention that most of the corporate firms who had their establishments along these streets used to send hampers to him during the festive season as an act of gratitude, and not as a bribe, for ensuring the free flow of vehicles in those areas.

Stakeholders

The Police Department is not the only department that should be blamed for the traffic mess and congestion in the city and suburbs. The government should take cognizance of the large volume of vehicles being imported into this country by various importers of motor vehicles both new and second hand. Does our country need so many vehicles? Have a look at the number of