Collective Responsibility Needed to Reduce Road Traffic Accidents in Sri Lanka

Strategic Insights -

Sri Lanka's Western Province has been plagued by a persistently high rate of road traffic accidents, with over 1,000 fatalities reported in the past six months alone. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Indika Hapugoda of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Unit emphasizes the need for collective responsibility and awareness to address this issue, as laws prohibiting mobile phone use while driving and other road rules continue to be neglected.

Key Takeaways:

  • The enforcement of laws prohibiting mobile phone use while driving is challenging due to the need for visual confirmation by police officers, which can be difficult to achieve.
  • Available CCTV footage and call log history of drivers can provide clarity in cases where it is difficult to determine if a driver was using a mobile phone while driving.
  • Pedestrians also have a responsibility to be vigilant and avoid using mobile phones while on the road, especially when crossing it.
  • A change of discipline towards road rules is needed from everyone to ensure road safety.
  • The traffic control and road safety unit has conducted awareness workshops in schools, and plans to implement stronger laws on speed limits and introduce a CCTV system for better surveillance and enforcement are ongoing.
  • Continuous road safety education is essential, as drivers' compliance to road rules declines over time due to the influence of their peers.
  • Pedestrians' behavior is often overlooked in conversations about road safety, and their endurance time at pedestrian crossings without signals can lead them to cross while vehicles are approaching.
  • Education, raising awareness, and fostering long-term behavioral change are necessary to address the cultural issue of following road rules.

Statistics:

  • Over 1,000 fatalities have been reported in the Western Province of Sri Lanka in the past six months alone.
  • The enforcement of laws prohibiting mobile phone use while driving is challenging due to the need for visual confirmation by police officers.
  • Only 12.8 milligrams of blood alcohol can impair motor skills, in Sri Lanka's adversarial climate (Source: Daily Mirror, 2020).
  • According to the World Health Organization, every 24 hours, 3,300 people are killed in road accidents around the world.
  • Pedestrian crossings without signals often lead to vehicle-pedestrian conflicts due to driver's inattention.

Sources:

  • News first (no date)
  • Daily Mirror (2020)
  • World Health Organization (no date)