News
Road racing biker menace leaves cops chasing riders’ tail
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Bikers racing on public roads at night and endangering other road users gained renewed attention from the police after the recent death of a teen who crashed into a car while racing with another youth.
But traffic police are nowhere close to stamping out the nuisance.
Police say many youths have died during motorbike street races and three-wheeler street races.
One such recent incident was at Horana on Friday, January 16: a 17-year-old youth was killed and a 21-year-old seriously injured when they crashed into a compact car at night.
Stretches of road in Piliyandala, Kesbewa, and Marine Drive from Mount Lavinia to Kollupitiya, Bandarawatta, and Horana areas have become prime street racing spots late at night
The police said that the incident had occurred near a junction in Horana on the Ratnapura-Panadura road.
The police said that bikers joined the funeral procession of the deceased youth, and two of them performed wheelies through a combination of hard acceleration, body weight shift (leaning back), and clutching.
Two suspects who performed the wheelies were arrested and produced before Horana Chief Magistrate Chandana Kalansuriya on January 27.
During the hearing, the magistrate ordered that the other 12 youths who rode motorbikes in the funeral procession be arrested and produced in court. Organisers and those who photographed and made video recordings of the races are also to be arrested.
The two suspects, Horana Ballapitiya Kavindu Dilashan and Manusha Adithya, were remanded till Friday, February 6, and released on bail. According to police, they would be charged at the next hearing on June 12.
Traffic police officers from Colombo and suburbs said motorbike racers and three-wheeler drivers have become a menace on public roads.
Speeding and reckless behaviour during races increase road traffic accidents and endanger bystanders and other drivers.
Police have identified two types of street racing — spontaneous night street racing groups and the much larger street racer groups that are active during festive periods.
The Sunday Times learns that most of these races take place at stretches between one and two kilometres, and there is betting involved.
Stretches of road in Piliyandala, Kesbewa, and Marine Drive from Mount Lavinia to Kollupitiya, Bandarawatta, and Horana areas have become prime street racing spots late at night. Residents complain of ear-splitting noise from bikes.
Even when tipped off about racing, the police say that organisers switch tactics.
Modified bikes with high-performance engines make work difficult for traffic police.
Traffic officers admit that there is no proper system to gather information on street racing gangs and to constantly monitor activity. They want more equipment and traffic police officers.
People complain that police merely react when accidents occur and do not attempt to nab organisers and participants.
However, some area police seek help from the community and have devised plans to arrest street racers by encouraging businesses to set up CCTV cameras.
The police plan to use the camera footage to detect crime, including street races. Some traffic police officers said that they too have a few high-powered motorbikes and have used them to pursue night racers.
The police said they are committed to stake-outs to detect night races if there are high-performance motorbikes.
A senior police officer told the Sunday Times that though there are many sources to gather information on the underage street racers, there is no formal system. So police must depend on tip-offs in most instances.
He said police are trying to create a mechanism to create a database to get information from hospitals about underage riders injured in night races.
The officer even said one could learn the condition of underage drivers and know from medical records if they are under the influence of any substance.
Health Ministry Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe said the ministry would support any agency to tackle the issue of underage drivers as well as street racers.
The Deputy Inspector General in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W.P.J. Senadheera, said motorbikes should only be used as a convenient mode of transport and not for racing on public roads.
Mr Senadheera said high-capacity motorbikes and modified motor vehicles which breach motor traffic regulations are a problem. Police have been asked to confiscate such vehicles and produce them in courts.
Traffic police officers are also instructed to take stern action against those aiding and abetting illegal acts such as racing by providing high-capacity engines.
“We have instructed traffic police island-wide to be strict against traffic violations and take legal action,’’ he said.
However, people complain that police are slow to act in contrast to their claims about wanting to reduce accidents. Some regular motorbike riders, for example, insert mobile phones on the side of their helmets and talk while riding, but the police don’t seem to notice.
| Coordinated enforcement needed Traffic police say they are forced to deal with road traffic accidents and implement the law without any background support from other state entities, which could also aid in stopping street races. If Sri Lanka Customs imposes heavy duties and bans modified motorbike parts and high-capacity engine parts, they believe that the trend of modifying bikes could be changed. In addition, the Department of Motor Traffic should also set an age limit to own a motorbike and make it essential for every vehicle owner to have a valid licence. Police point out that any person with a national identity card can own a vehicle. | |
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