Traffic mess and lack of common sense at the top

Driving on a major road like Highlevel Road or Duplication Road between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. is a motorist’s worst nightmare. The slow moving traffic can be understood as even some of the most developed countries have this issue especially in rush hour. But in Sri Lanka it is not the same.

The traffic mess here is related to a total breakdown of highway traffic rules we used to follow decades ago. All highway code rules are forgotten.The only rule is to intimidate the other driver and clear your own path.

In this scenario, there is a great deal of blame to go around to our elected leaders. I often see chaos on the roads and wonder who is in charge of our roads. Tiny Sri Lanka has bushels of elected leaders. Why haven’t at least some of them taken some measures that will bring some level of sanity? More and properly located traffic lights, no left ( or right turn ) signs, no parking at all double yellow lines, no entry signs, no honking signs - the list can go on. All one needs is some common sense.

Granted our road network has not expanded with the load of vehicles on the roads today. That is the foremost problem. Yet to maximize the use of the existing road network and to bring order to our roads, the leaders need to act smart. For example, the days that one could drive from a by-lane and enter into a main road and turn left or right should be long gone. Such intersections need no left (or right) turn signs so such traffic can only enter and join the traffic stream in one direction. This simple sign alone can prevent hundreds of our intersections getting jam packed in the middle and beginning to look like a herd of buffaloes at each others’ throats. Remember that we are in the 21st century now.

Similarly the days one could stop anywhere on a road to do shopping too should be long gone. One needs to learn to park at a properly designated parking area and walk. That is the price to pay for living in cities.

Thirdly only one car should be driving on a lane while others need to be in front or behind. There is no way two vehicles including even a three wheeler can parallel drive with another vehicle on the same lane. No sir.

Any lane change should be done bearing in mind that the current driver on any lane has full right to drive on without being obstructed. This used to be called “right of way” but I doubt presentday drivers even know this phrase.

The biggest culprits for the chaos on our roads are the private bus drivers and the three wheel drivers who drive with impunity. A 10th grade kid somehow gets a driver’s licence, calls himself a bus driver and now controls a huge vehicle that dictates how everyone else drives. They are in constant competition to win passengers at the peril of other drivers and pedestrians.

The following measures may help: Any private bus driver who causes an accident should be subject to a Rs 5000 fine over and above any other fines and penalties. That should go directly to the Police station. These funds will help add more traffic cops on the beat. Plus this will act as a deterrent to other bus drivers. All police stations should be connected via internet to one central network so that drivers who are repeat offenders will be suspended or banned from driving depending on the severity of the offences.

Three wheel drivers use their size to get their way on the roads. Other drivers fear hitting them for fear of killing them. Given the size of our roads, perhaps creating a four- foot or so wide centre lane exclusively for them to drive is the answer.

Asoka Seneviratne

via email