A little more concern please!
 Reading newspapers every morning one might not be
surprised or even alarmed if he finds more than one news article about a fatal
road accident in Sri Lanka. In fact news of this sort has become quit common in
recent times. Sri Lanka, on its way to become a regional economic powerhouse has
seen a sharp rise in vehicular use. With the economic boom and the resulting
rise of living standards more and more people opt to have a vehicle of their
own. More than a hundred thousand vehicles (locally assembled and imported)
including motor bikes, trishaws and heavy vehicles are put to the roads
annually.
While this may seem a positive sign of economic recovery there
is the other not so good side of it. With the sharp rise in vehicular traffic
road accidents have become more frequent. Every year there is an alarming
increase in the number of road accidents and fatalities. In 2011 there had been
more than 35000 reported road accidents which had claimed about 2500 lives.
A few days back a young woman was knocked down by a speeding
private bus as she was crossing the road on a pedestrian crossing in a busy
Colombo street. The young 26 year old mother of an infant child died on the
spot. The driver never stopped to look back. In another incident a school bus
full of school children driven by an unqualified driver under the influence of
alcohol met with an accident. Many children were seriously wounded in the
incident.
There are several combined and individual factors responsible
for this worst trend. The lack of knowledge of proper traffic rules, vehicle
conditions are driver's attitudes are among the important factors which cause
road accidents. In Sri Lanka there are sufficient road rules to minimize the
accidents. The road network has been developed on par with regional standards.
There are strict rules which govern the registration and renewal of motor
vehicles. Un-roadworthy vehicles are taken off the roads. There are more traffic
policemen in the roads than ever before. CCTV cameras fixed in important
intersections in the city monitor the road ways 24/7.
Much of the problem lies in the attitudinal aspects of the road
users especially the drivers who use the roads. There are many who pay scant
regard to the safety of other human beings when they are behind wheels. The
thought of giving priority to fulfilling ones own requirements precede the value
of the lives of others. Especially the actions of bus drivers and other heavy
vehicle drivers should be scrutinized in order to reduce the number of road
accidents. Unless there is a change in the thinking patterns of these
individuals, their actions will not change.
Sri Lanka is a country with a high literacy rate. And to make a
difference it will not take much. The great religions which are practiced by Sri
Lankans preach one's responsibility towards the others in the society. The laws
which govern the nation are put into practice to safeguard the wellbeing of all
Sri Lankans.
So let us think a little. A little more concern for the lives of
others can go a long way in making this wonderful land of ours much safer.
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