Letters to the Editor
View(s):The collapse of road culture: It’s time that Govt. takes decisive action
Each day, we witness yet another tragic public transport accident – lives lost, many injured. One doesnt need to be a rocket scientist to grasp the underlying issue: the alarming lack of discipline among our motorists.
Reckless motorcycle riders and three-wheeler drivers weave dangerously between vehicles, tailgating so closely that even a gentle brake can trigger a collision. While a few car drivers still observe road etiquette, the scenario changes drastically with flashy SUVs – Prados, Defenders, and pickups. Many of these are driven by boisterous, attention-seeking individuals who often lack even a basic grasp of road rules, depending solely on engine power rather than judgment.
Then come the undisputed kings of the road: private and public buses. When they want to speed up, they honk incessantly, bullying others out of the way. Yet when another bus up ahead is boarding passengers, they slow to a crawl, causing long queues of frustrated motorists. Worst of all, they stop wherever they please, even in the middle of the road, encouraging passengers to board from anywhere, completely disregarding the purpose of designated bus halts. Even when they do stop at a bus halt, they often block the vehicle behind them, prioritizing their departure over the flow of traffic. Shockingly, road development authorities rarely account for adequate space for bus halts in their planning.
To make matters worse, many of these vehicles spew thick clouds of black smoke, further degrading an already fragile environment. Although numerous regulatory bodies exist, their role seems limited to collecting licence fees, not enforcing standards. At this point, motoring in Sri Lanka feels more like entering a hell ride.
So where are the law enforcement authorities? Are they blind to these daily violations? When a government holds executive power, enjoys a two-thirds majority in Parliament, and controls most local councils, we must ask: why has road discipline not improved? Is it inefficiency, a lack of will to enforce authority, or sheer ignorance of the problem?
Each time we see multicoloured, gaudily decorated buses, deafening horns, and unruly road behaviour, it reflects more than just traffic chaos – it signals a deeper deterioration in our civic fabric. It’s time for the new government to take decisive action. If they don’t or choose not to, it will stand as a damning indictment of failed governance.
Dr. J. B. Abayakoon Via email
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