Speed limits to be revised to help rein in road traffic deaths
Twenty-three people—or around seven per day—died in traffic accidents from April 12–14, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period, with the main causes being drunk driving, speeding and negligence.
The total number of accidents reported by the National Hospital of Sri Lanka alone was 161 during this period. There were also some fireworks injuries, but nothing serious.
There is a seasonal spike in road accidents and drownings, but the number of incidents was lower this year, said Dr. Samith Sirithunga, a consultant community physician who heads the Injury Prevention and Control Unit of the Health Ministry’s Directorate of NonCommunicable Diseases.
About 30 to 32 accidents occur daily, of which eight to nine are classified as traffic incidents. Car crashes, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions and side-impact collisions are the most frequent types.
Dr. Sirithunga is calling for a plan to reduce accidents, considering the many consequences.
A majority of injured victims are in the productive age group—15 to 45 years—resulting in consequences for them as well as their families and the community. A multi-sector action plan was launched last year to address road safety, drowning, home and workplace safety, etc., he said. Implementation should lead to a 10% reduction in traffic accidents by 2025 and at least 20% by 2030.
“The current acceptable rate of blood alcohol level while driving is 0.80g per decilitre in Sri Lanka, and our recommendation is to lower this further,” Dr. Sirithunga said.
Meanwhile, the Health and Transport Ministries, the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board and the police will jointly launch a pilot project to detect drivers using illegal drugs. Oral fluid assays—where saliva testing on roadsides is used as an alternative to urine and blood checks—are not available in Sri Lanka yet, but the technology is being explored.
The RDA is preparing a safety audit of the road network, said K. Chandrakumara, RDA Deputy
Director General. Of the 180 hazardous spots that police have identified, 84 have already been repaired. Maintenance work has been undertaken at others. A database that would provide real-time information on the locations of reported accidents would be useful, he said.
“Installing staggered crosswalks and speed breakers are progressive traffic-calming options,” Mr. Chandrakumara said. “Fixing solarpowered traffic flashers and road studs, particularly in hazardous places, has increased safety. "
Before the end of 2024, speed limits on every developed and undeveloped roadway will be revised based on use, condition, and curves. The Legal Draftsman’s Department is drawing up the paperwork, Mr. Chandrakumara said.
Between April 10 and 15, a total of 51 accidents—none of them fatal— were reported, said Expressway Operation Maintenance Deputy Director R.A.D. Kahatapitiya.
Transport State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said that compared with 2021, when there were 2,500 fatal accidents, the number of accidents fell slightly to 2,100 last year.
“Everything starts and ends with education,” he said. As part of this campaign, road safety clubs were launched in schools to create a safe environment for students.
Road safety measures and basic first-aid knowledge will be added to the school curriculum, he said.
Lowering speed limits alone can lead to a considerable drop in crashes, Mr. Alagiyawanna said. A Gazette will be issued soon to update speed limits. The web-enabled demerit points system is nearing completion and will be implemented. Procurement has begun.
A World Bank-funded project is ongoing to link all of the country’s traffic-related organisations to a single platform, alongside the creation of a real-time database, according to K.I. Yogachandran of the Department of Motor Traffic.
Plans are afoot to convert the National Council for Road Safety, made up of 17 road safety-related entities, into a national commission. In the meantime, discussions are being held with insurers to immediately settle compensation payments to victims of traffic accidents of over Rs. 500,000, negating the need for legal proceedings, Mr. Alagiyawanna said.