The Transport and Highways Ministry urges the public to support efforts to reduce the ever-increasing number of road accidents during the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
To alleviate traffic congestion, the Sri Lanka Transport Board, Sri Lanka Railway Department, and the National Transport Commission under the Transport and Highways Ministry have organized a special transport plan for convenience of the people during this festive season.
Additionally, special transport arrangements are in place at the Makumbura and Kadawatha multimodal transport centres during this period. For further information, the public is advised to call the Transport and Highways Ministry hotline ‘1968’.
The rapid increase in road accidents is attributed to violations of traffic laws, reckless driving, alcohol consumption, and mobile phone use while driving. The Transport and Highways Ministry emphasises that cooperation from both drivers and the public is essential to address this issue.
Therefore, the Ministry advises drivers to maintain a speed of less than 100 kilometres per hour on expressways, avoid using mobile phones while driving, wear seatbelts, keep a safe distance between vehicles, refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, drive on the left except when overtaking, obey traffic signals, ensure vehicle tyres are in good condition, and exercise caution in areas inhabited by wild animals.
A notable aspect of road accidents is the increase in fatalities from three-wheeler accidents, motorcycle accidents, and head-on collisions. It is reported that victims of such severe accidents rarely survive, with approximately 10 lives lost daily due to road accidents.
With the increased use of expressways, 56 percent of expressway accidents are attributed to driver negligence, with 35 percent resulting in death or permanent disability. Surveys indicate that the main causes of expressway accidents are negligence, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and third-party errors. The Transport and Highways Ministry also reports a significant rise in fatal traffic accidents on expressways in 2024.
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