Explaining the new fine system, the National Road Safety Council chief said the heavy fine of Rs. 25,000 would not be applicable to offences connected with overtaking from left and speeding beyond the allowed limit. He said the existing fines would apply

oncoming lorry. Following the impact, the three- wheeler collided with a car that was coming behind the lorry.

The three wheeler driver is receiving treatment in the Badulla Hospital. Investigations indicated that the accident occurred because of the bad condition of the vehicle.

In another accident this week, a motorcyclist was killed when a lorry coming down the Anderson Road suddenly cut to its right to avoid an oncoming car, hitting the motorcycle in the process. The rider was thrown away into the roadside drain and he died after being admitted to the Kalubowila hospital.

Prof. Amal S. Kumarage, Senior Professor of the Department of Transport and Logistics at the University of Moratuwa, said the deficiency in designing roads in keeping with safety standards and the condition of the vehicles involved in accidents have to be studied for action to be taken to amend the current flaws.

“To maintain safety standards of roads, relevant institutions must be held accountable,” he said.

Prof. Kumarage said that as a result of the large tax component on vehicles, most people were compelled to buy less expensive vehicles whose safety standards were wanting.

He identified the unsafe road, the state of the vehicle and the driver as the three main factors that often worked in combination to cause accidents.

The expert called for the review of the drivers' manual as it had not been updated for the past 50 years.

Automobile Association Secretary Devapriya Hettiarachchi said he believed that those who sought driving licences were not being thoroughly tested by Motor Vehicle Department examiners. Perhaps, this was due to practical problems arising from the need to process thousands of applicants daily.

He said a proposal was now being discussed to allow the Police, the Sri Lanka Transport Board and the Automobile Association to conduct driving lessons and a Cabinet paper in this regard was expected to be presented in the coming months.