Lockdown or no lockdown, road accidents continue to claim more lives

With the country opening up fully following periodic lockdowns, experts and authorities are looking into ways to reduce the number of road accidents that continue to claim lives.

Police statistics reveal that this year upto October 31, 1880 people have died in 1796 fatal road traffic accidents while 5122 accidents have resulted in severe, life long disabilities in the victims.

A 36-year-old navy officer, 48-year-old police constable, 42-year- old lorry driver, 21-year- old motorcyclist and 50-year-old pedestrian were among those who died in road accidents this week.

Two died in a collision between the three-wheeler they were travelling in and a speeding tipper truck along the Manampitiya-Batticaloa road. A woman who was in the three-wheeler sustained severe injuries and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Polonnaruwa Hospital.

Police said a 36-year-old from Baduraliya died after he lost control of his motorbike that hit a lorry coming from the opposite direction.

In another incident a 52-year-old man died after he was hit by a speeding bus in Kalutara North. A 54-year-old motorist from Ganemulla died on admission to the Ragama Teaching Hospital following a collision between the motorbike he was travelling in and a container truck on the ColomboNegombo main road near Weligampitiya.

A man in his early twenties from Nagoda died when his bike hit a three-wheeler, while a 67-year-old died on the spot when a tipper truck hit his motorbike in Thanamalvila. A 50-year-old pedestrian from Moratuwa died on admission to Panadura hospital after suffering fatal injuries sustained when he was hit by a Matara bound bus in the Koralawella area.

Around 3000 people die from road accidents annually. Despite a countrywide lockdown and travel restrictions, last year saw 2141 deaths on roads.

In 2019 traffic accidents claimed 2,852 lives. There were 2689 fatal accidents, 7718 accidents causing severe injuries, 10,679 minor accidents and 9,391 accidents that caused damage to property.

“With schools resuming, businesses back in operation and workplaces getting back employees, the number of road accidents is bound to increase. Unless the public is cautious the next two months will see more accidents especially during the festive season. Special plans are ahead to detect drunk and reckless drivers,” Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Nihal Thalduwa said.

Senior Professor in Transport and Logistics Amal Kumarage said the government should focus on a policy for safe mobility.

“The pandemic resulted in more people opting for private vehicles instead of using public transport. This has increased the risk factor by 30 to 40 times with more people opting to use motorbikes rather than public transport,"he said.

He said by improving public transport, the safest mode of mobility, there is a possibility of reducing accidents.

“About 50 percent opt for motorbikes, the riskiest mode of transport. Then about 15 percent chose a three-wheeler. Due to import restrictions, even vehicles imported are low end vehicles with the least safety features.This is disregarding the 3000 lives lost on the road annually," he emphasised.

“We can’t only blame the drivers and make them look like criminals. There should be policy changes. By creating a business out of private buses, the government encourages speeding among bus drivers. There is also no regulation of tippers that run like ants," Prof. Kumarage said.

"Some road traffic victims are disabled for life especially if they sustain head injuries. Sadly most of them are young men, some are breadwinners of young families," Head Nurse at the Accident Service, of the National Hospital Pushpa Ramyani de Soyza said.

There are about 14 institutions involved in averting road traffic accidents.

National Council for Road Safety Chairman Anton De Mens told the Sunday Times that a number of measures are being taken to bring down the accident rate.

"Rs. 10 million has been granted to the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board to purchase equipment to detect narcotic use among long distance heavy vehicle drivers. About 10 percent of tipper drivers are known to be addicted to narcotics such as 'ice'. This is a trend that could lead to more hit and run accidents in outstations," he said.

He also said police have requested funding for night vision speeding equipment and the Government is to allocate Rs.150 million for this purpose.

Mr. De Mens said 73 percent of pedestrians who meet with road accidents are above 50 years of age.

"It is important for the elderly to get their hearing and sight checked. Meanwhile drivers too need to be cautious as there are more private vehicles on the roads than before," he added.

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa in his budget speech also proposed to impose a fee on vehicles involved in accident.