Complaints piling up against speeding, recklessness
Road traffic violations by bus drivers have increased in the post-pandemic period and most violations are observed in Colombo, suburbs, and main towns.
Complaints against bus drivers, especially about driving in a dangerous manner, have risen after a drop during the coronavirus pandemic period and the lockdown, according to the National Transport Commission and the police.
Overtaking in a haphazard manner, competing to overtake, and picking up passengers randomly are among the most common offences.
Prasanna Sanjeewa, the chairman of the Road Passenger Transport Authority – Western Province, said most offences are related to buses heading from Colombo to the suburbs such as Homagama, or villages such as Awissawella.
A timekeeper is to be stationed at the start and the destination and also at the centre point of a route, to which buses should report within a specific time.
However, bus drivers are known to spend extra time at selected stops and then speed their way through the
rest of the journey.
According to Mr Sanjeewa, buses could be suspended from taking their turns, based on complaints.
Some bus drivers who had violated road rules had been observed to be under the influence of alcohol.
“There had been some instances where the bus drivers and conductors were suspended due to reckless driving,’’ he said.
Mr. Sanjeewa said there were 20 to 25 complaints every day.
There were 2,429 complaints in 2022, of which 202 were about reckless driving.
In January, there were 200 complaints, of which 27 were about reckless driving.
Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said violations by drivers had declined due to lockdowns during the pandemic and the lack of fuel last year.
“A bus driver is responsible not only for lives (onboard) but also the families of the passengers. If there are 25 passengers on the bus, it involves 25 families too.”
There are social consequences and costs of treating accident victims, which fall on the Government. Then there are costs of police investigations and that of lawsuits.
The chairman of the National Transport Commission, Shashi Welgama, said there are 30 to 50 complaints a day about bus drivers.
A GPS system is to be introduced to track speeding bus drivers.
“Anyone who notices a violation of law committed by bus drivers can immediately report by dialling 1995,” Mr. Welgama said.