Immediate, practical steps needed to reduce road accidents

The recent bus accident in the Kotmale area where nearly 30 persons lost their lives and many more were injured has once again alerted those in Government to the seriousness of the issue of lack of road safety. The statistics for fatal accidents this year are shocking with nearly 1,000 dead in road accidents and many more maimed, some for life.

Road accidents are a daily affair and now have reached a point that people hear about it and forget about it till the next one happens. People are killed while crossing the road, including being knocked down on pedestrian crossings, and others killed on the sidewalks with children, often among those who often lose their lives.

Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake stepped in after the recent accident to announce several measures he hopes will help curb the rising number of accidents. He said long-distance buses in Sri Lanka will soon be equipped with GPS and CCTV systems powered by Artificial Intelligence and this will cover both Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and privately operated buses. 

“This technology will help us detect whether a driver is tired, sleepy, or using a mobile phone while on duty. Such systems are already in use internationally, where AI-enhanced GPS and CCTV tools monitor driver activities. We aim to implement a similar model here,” the Minister said.

Such proposals are welcome given that technology can enhance safety measures but there are practical steps that can be taken immediately to reduce the number of road accidents.

Buses are used as mass transport and is the main public transport method of Sri Lankans. They carry the bulk of the public transport users as it’s more convenient and more frequently available. But how well are bus drivers trained and how well are they aware that the lives of so many ride on their hands?

The bus that toppled at Kotmale was travelling from Kataragama to Kurunegala, a bus route that takes nearly 10 hours. From Kataragama to Kotmale it’s nearly five hours and could be even more depending on road conditions. There was only one driver who had the entire trip on his hands with no relief driver available. This on a bus operated by the State-run Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB). It is humanly impossible for anyone to undertake such a long distance trip especially when one is behind a heavy vehicle like a bus. Hence this accident was one waiting to happen and tragically for the unfortunate persons who boarded the bus on the fateful day, it was the end of the road for many of them including the driver while for others it would be a lifetime of suffering.

Driver fatigue and reckless driving are two of the main causes of accidents and drivers on long distance routes often use energy drinks or other drinks with stimulants to help them stay awake while there are serious allegations that they also use illicit drugs to help them undertake these arduous journeys.

The Police are well aware of these happenings and have said, while they have equipment to detect drunk drivers, detecting use of illicit drugs is more complicated and hence more often than not, turn a blind eye.

There are also serious issues with the road worthiness of buses and this has been neglected by the Police as well as the Department of Motor Traffic. The Government launched the Clean Sri Lanka program in January with a lot of fanfare and disciplining drivers was one of the many pledges made then. Immediately the Police sprang into action removing accessories on buses and three-wheelers but a few months down the line all these have been forgotten.

It’s a welcome move that the Transport authorities have taken note of the seriousness of the situation but the public can only hope that these are not knee-jerk reactions to a terrible tragedy. If the Police and the relevant authorities don’t stay alert, this will not be the last of such tragedies.