936 dead in rapid road crash rebound
Concern is growing over the number of fatal road accidents caused by drivers in the post- curfew period, and senior police officials said reckless driving, drinking and driving, and driver fatigue are the main contributory factors.
Director of Traffic Administration and Road Safety, SSP Indika Hapugoda, told the Sunday Times an awareness campaign had begun.
“We predict seven to eight [accidents] a day and during the curfew there were only one or two accidents reported, sometimes none. However, after curfew was relaxed about five to six accidents are reported a day,” he said.
Sri Lanka Police statistics from
January 1, 2020 to June 15, show 891 fatal accidents in which 936 have been killed. The total number of accidents is 8,885.
“We have also deployed traffic policemen in civvies in buses to observe offences and create awareness. About 15 to 20 such policemen are deployed and about 1,500 traffic division police have been deployed in the Colombo district alone apart from the 7,000 officers island wide,” he said.
However, according to SSP Hapugoda, fines are not yet being imposed for traffic offences.
“We also introduced the priority bus lane from June 8 from Kurusa Handiya in Moratuwa to Colombo Fort, and from June 22 we are introducing the system from Borella to Pettah.’’
DIG (Traffic) B.R.S.R. Nagahamulla, said people who are drinking and driving will be arrested.
"We are also planning to set up night operations," he said.
The National Council for Road Safety ( NCRS), chairman, Anton De Mens told the Sunday Times schoolchildren will be advised on road safety.
“We are hoping to discuss an initiative with the Ministry of Education where O/ L and A/ L examinations will include a couple of questions on road safety which will broaden their mind to analyse the matter in depth,” he said.
Moreover, together with the National Transport Commission, the council is hoping to start awareness programmes for drivers of three- wheelers and buses. The council is also thinking of public service spots on TV.
Senior Lecturer of the Department of Transport and Logistics at the University of Moratuwa, Dr T. Sivakumar told the Sunday Times that during the lockdown people got used to driving faster as the roads were clear and human nature means this could continue, though speeding is illegal.
Despite the gradual relaxation of the curfew, road congestion had increased unexpectedly.
“I was personally expecting that road congestion will build over time and people will come out gradually but slowly,” he said.
The National Hospital of Sri Lanka ( NHSL) reported 5,441 road accidents from January 1, 2020 to May 31 2020.
According to the hospital’s head of nursing, Pushpa R. Zoysa, said before the coronavirus pandemic, 40% of accidents were due to falls and road traffic accidents made up 20%.
“During the coronavirus situation home accidents and domestic violence was very high and road accidents were far less due to the curfew, however, after the curfew was relaxed road accidents are gradually being reported,” she said.