The tragedy which occurred in Borella yesterday morning claiming the life of one motorcyclist and seriously injuring six others, is only the latest in a long list of issues. A fatal road accident occurred near the Cemetery Roundabout in Borella, during the peak morning tariffc. The deceased was a 62-year-old resident of Athurugiriya. 

A crane truck with malfunctioned brakes, travelling from Rajagiriya towards the Bauddhaloka Mawatha, collided with multiple vehicles including six motorcycles and three cars that were stopped near the traffic signals at the cemetery roundabout. Some witnesses said that the crane had struck the cemetery wall before it over-ran the motorbikes and rammed the small cars which were stopped at the light before the roundabout. The authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. The driver of the crane has been taken into custody, and the Police suspect that the accident may have been caused by brake failure. According to the Police, they suspect that the crane driver involved in the fatal accident has been under the influence of cannabis or a similar substance. The owner of the crane was also arrested last evening.

The tragedy which occurred is a combination of many of the woes that pedestrians and motorists have when they are on the road.

First, the question must be asked, why is such heavy equipment as the crane-truck, usually used in construction sites, travelling under its own steam, and not transported to the site of use on a trailer, hauled by a prime mover? This is the practice in many other countries. The crane, with its massive tonnage, all steel construction and high-performance powertrain, was not a fit for the narrow, single-lane, high-traffic stretch of Bauddhaloka Mawatha – between the cemetery junction and the junction near Devi Balika Vidyalaya.  

Secondly, in many other countries, heavy vehicle transit in urban areas is limited to less traffic hours, sometimes only moving at night when there is less traffic on the streets. In Sri Lanka such practices seldom happen, which is indicative of the amount of thought and planning given to policy and regulations regarding road safety. Also, if the crane’s breaks failed or its mechanical components failed, that is indicative of poor safety compliance. Shouldn’t this and other collisions which happen regularly with container haulers or heavy trucks flag the need to review existing heavy vehicle safety compliance regime.

Thirdly, if the Police suspect the driver to be under the influence of whichever substance found to be in his blood stream, that only underscores the need for new substance abuse and alcohol testing regulations, which Sri Lankans have been calling out for over the last decade. Multiple bus crashes and vehicle collisions are suspected to have been influenced by drivers who were under the influence of narcotics or liquor.

Time and again, the Police have flagged the need for regulatory updates and the need for roadside narcotics testing kits, which have been in short supply due to the Treasury not finding them to be ‘important’ and ‘essential’ enough to cough up some dollars to purchase. Yes, we are just getting on our feet after an economic crisis, and more challenges may be on the horizon. Nevertheless, the State must provide at least basic capacity for law enforcement and transport regulators to do the due diligence in keeping our roads safe. Early this year, the Police Department announced that all officers seeking reinstatement after being inactive for any reason including suspension, must undergo mandatory drug testing before resuming active duty. The directive, issued by the Acting Inspector General of Police, requires senior officers and officers-in-charge across the country to ensure that such personnel undergo drug screening at the Police Hospital. If this can be done to keep the Police force free of drug abuses and thereby upholding expected professional conduct standards, why can’t the same be done for heavy vehicle and bus drivers. Pedestrians and motorists deserve a safe and efficient road network. Before we build bigger, more organised roads, and streamline transportation systems, let us first restore discipline and rule of law to our roads.