News
Stats show pedestrians an endangered species
Pedestrians run the highest risk of dying on the country’s roads, police statistics show, with pedestrian deaths causing the most mortalities in accidents for the second consecutive year. The good news is that the number of accidents and deaths has dropped.
Last year, there were 2,839 deaths in accidents out of which 766 were pedestrian deaths; in 2018, it was reported that 952 pedestrians were killed on roads out of a total of 3,151 deaths caused by accidents.
“To reduce accidents we have increased the police presence in certain areas identified as accident-prone,” DIG (Traffic) Muditha Pussella said.
He said monthly meetings on road safety directed by Defence Minister Chamal Rajapaksa will be held between police, the Road Development Authority, Department of Motor Traffic and the water board. “We are discussing a number of long-term projects to help improve road safety,” he said. Immediate priority was being given to taking strict actions against people violating traffic laws.
The list of road accident mortalities for 2019 includes the deaths of 925 motorcyclists, 237 pillion riders, 204 cyclists, 282 drivers and 405 passengers. The numbers were slightly down from the previous year, with the biggest drop being in motorcyclist deaths – about 100 fewer fatalities.
Fatalities that have occurred so far this year include the death of a 72-year-old man who was killed when the car he was travelling in collided with a petrol bowser at the Gamsaba junction in Nugegoda on January 11. The driver of the petrol bowser was arrested.
The Secretary of the National Council for Road Safety, Mahinda Jayasinghe, said a series of projects have been proposed to improve road safety standards.
They include a short video to be circulated on digital media and posters to be put up at railway stations to increase awareness about railway accidents.
In addition, road safety committees will be set up in each province.
Senior Lecturer of the Department of Transport and Logistics at the University of Moratuwa, Dr T. Sivakumar, said attention needed to be paid to the functions of different roads.
“Every road must be designed with its own significance serving a specific purpose – for example, local roads function to cater for accessibility while express ways cater to higher mobility,” he explained.
He said although roads are designed accurately on paper, problems occur when building commences.