Sunday Times E-Paper

Bad driving behind recent surge in expressway accidents

Story and pix by Amila Prabodha Gamage

Bad driving behaviours, lack of maintaining safe distance between vehicles and sudden stopping in the midst of the expressway have caused a recent surge in road accidents.

The most recent accident reported was involving three cars, a van and a bus near the Kottawa exit, where the vehicles were traveling towards Colombo. The accident was caused due to a failure to maintain a safe distance between the vehicles. Three persons were injured including a foreign child.

Acting Director, Expressway Operation Maintenance and Management, Nihal Lodwick, pointed out that recent accidents were due to vehicles driving close after another with very limited distance between them.

“If one vehicle breaks, or slows down, the vehicles behind would hit it from behind causing multiple accidents. Most of these cases are because of bad driving,” he said.

He elaborated that every driver utilising the expressway should at least keep a 50- metre distance between vehicles, and observe both sides and rear before stopping the vehicles during an emergency.

Drunk driving, fatigue and sleepiness are other reasons that contribute to accidents. In 2021, there were about 500 accidents, with 9 deaths, and 23,000 speed detections. From Christmas to date there have been 40 accidents, with 1 death reported.

Mr Lodwick pointed out that while a speed of 100km an hour is allowed on the expressway, people should be mindful of the speed limit and other variables, and maintain lane discipline. “During adverse weather conditions speed should be reduced to 60km per hour,” he said.

He advised drivers to take the next exit point if they are sleepy. Only in case of an emergency should a vehicle stop on the side of the expressway.

He added if expressway commuters experience a breakdown or punctured tyre they are advised to inform the expressway hotline on 1969 and remain in the vehicle. He added that stopping a vehicle on the expressway to take selfies or photographs is prohibited.

PICTURE CORNER / NEWS

en-lk

2022-01-23T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-23T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytimes.pressreader.com/article/282033330574703

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