* Carelessness, cause of over 80 pc accidents
Rasika SOMARATHNA and Priyanka KURUGALA
The Motor Traffic Department is set to unveil several new measures to minimise road accidents in the country. These include the removal of vehicles from roads which are unsuitable for use, a point system to evaluate traffic offences, improved quality control tests on vehicles, awareness programmes for drivers and pedestrians and better training at driving schools.
Motor Traffic Department Commissioner General S H Harischandra said these measures will be implemented with the help of the Police.
According to the Commissioner, steps will also be taken to enhance manpower at the department to support the above measures. The department recruited 52 new motor vehicle examiners recently. They are slated to undergo a comprehensive training shortly.
According to statistics released by the Police, at least six people die daily in road tragedies. Over 80 percent accidents occur due to carelessness. Around 100 -150 road accidents occur daily of which 45 percent are serious.
Harischandra said vehicles not properly maintained and those categorised as unsuitable to ply on the roads, will be removed and their revenue licence withdrawn.
The revenue licence of vehicles categorised as not up to required maintenance standards will only be restored if the owners upgrade their vehicles to expected standards and prove it to the authorities.
The department is also planning to introduce a point system to evaluate traffic offences which would be captured in the drivers’ licences designed according to the state-of-the-art smart card technology. This would store driver information, including points gained for traffic offences.
According to Harischandra, if a driver exceeds a stipulated mark (24 points within two years - not finalised) his or her driving licence will be withdrawn until corrective measures have been taken.
“This will encourage drivers to obey road rules and minimise traffic violations,” Harischandra said.
He said special focus will be laid on enhancing awareness programmes for both drivers and pedestrians and improving training standards at driving schools.
The commissioner identified three areas, the driver, condition of the vehicle and road standard - as the three key elements which lead to an accident.
“We cannot do much to change the road environment. However, we can make a difference in the quality of driving standards and the vehicle and to this end we will do our best,” he added. Harischandra said the underlying cause of a majority of accidents was carelessness. The commissioner added that both the driver and pedestrian had a responsibility to correct their faulty practices.
He stressed the proposed measures will be strictly implemented to minimise accidents and create a set of disciplined drivers.
In 2010, the year for which the latest statistics are available, 2,721 people died and 26,847 people were injured in road accidents.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/04/09/sec01.asp
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