Let’s drive discipline whilst building highways

THE recent decision by the Government to install Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) on select roads has been widely welcomed by the people. Some of the alleged violations of road rules and accidents aired recently on TV news bulletins were shocking. This effort is helpful in creating more awareness as well as disciplining motorists and nabbing offenders.

Sri Lankan motorists are quite a notorious community. Road accident injuries have been identified as the most common and third highest when it comes to children. Research has found that the single biggest cause of road accidents is undisciplined driving such as overtaking, speeding and turning without signals. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a key contributor in this regard.

Apart from the loss of precious lives, health authorities estimate that the treatment of road accident injuries costs millions. Permanent disability adds further burdens to society as well as healthcare cost. To address one facet of this issue, a comprehensive motor insurance cover must be made affordable.

The country also faces another dilemma. The condition of the roads is another key reason for accidents. Motorists complain that roads filled with potholes or haphazard constructions sans warning signs often lead to accidents. On the other hand, authorities point to the fact that following improvements to some of the major roads, the rise in speeding motorists has led to a higher level of accidents.

Post-war road development is a key thrust as Sri Lanka certainly needs better and bigger highways and sprucing up infrastructure is key to higher socioeconomic growth. In tandem with the reduction in duties and improving per capita incomes, more people are opting to secure modes of private transport – be it a motorbike, car or van.

An explosive growth in new vehicle registration is likely in 2011 and beyond. The year 2010 has already seen a major growth and as per available data, the first 10 months of 2010 had witnessed a high 74% increase in new registration of motor vehicles to 285,000 as against 164,000 in the corresponding period of the previous year. Growth rates of motor cars and three wheelers have risen by 178% and 138%, respectively.

This gives an idea about the kind of high growth the country will see in terms of the vehicle stock. Those who are insistent that Sri Lanka has too many vehicles on the road are surely in for a rude shock when the final data is available for 2010. The notion that Sri Lanka has too many vehicles could be due to the fact that the road network is relatively underdeveloped. However, since the latter is being addressed, Sri Lanka is likely to have a better road network and fast growing vehicle stock.

As the country gets highly mobile, with roads that let motorists rev up, the challenge of reducing road accidents lies with better road discipline. Singapore, despite being a smaller nation, has more vehicles on its roads than Sri Lanka. Apart from boasting a developed road network, what singles Singapore out compared to Sri Lanka are better road rules and driver discipline, as well as effective enforcement.

A driver cannot be disciplined overnight; nor will Sri Lankan motorists reform in quick time. Trying to do this after the highways are built or existing roads are expanded will not work either. Putting reckless drivers on some of the well-carpeted, wide roads in some parts of the country is akin to placing a wild buffalo on a newly-laid turf. The way forward should be by inculcating a culture of discipline and a mindset of adhering to road rules. The authorities need not wait until the major highways or flyovers are built, but should start the process by marking lanes even in narrow roads and ensuring drivers and vehicles stick to their lanes. This will ensure that, at least in five years’ time when the road network is hopefully improved considerably, the current hazardous and annoying crisscrossing by motorists will end and all drivers will remain patient during the course of the journey.

Though this exercise might not yield immediate results, every motorist will know they have to stick to their lane as a discipline and by law. This, together with greater public awareness and education, along with more professional traffic police personnel, will ensure lives are safe on the peaceful roads of future Sri Lanka.