• Three-wheeler drivers to receive first aid and defensive driving training

Sri Lanka is at a crossroads when it comes to road safety. Traffic accidents have become the second leading cause of death in the country, with pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists bearing the heaviest burden. As of 4 September, official figures show 1,872 fatal accidents recorded this year alone, a grim reminder of how urgent the crisis has become.

In response, a groundbreaking initiative has been launched to address this growing concern. Michelin Lanka, in partnership with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) and the Sri Lanka Police, announced a joint training programme that aims to empower three-wheeler drivers with the skills to save lives and prevent accidents.

The programme, aligned with the National Road Safety Plan, will provide training on basic first aid and defensive driving to 500 three-wheeler drivers in the Western Province this year. Plans are already underway to extend the initiative island-wide in the coming years.

Three-wheelers as first responders

Three-wheelers, or ‘tuk tuks’, as they are fondly known, are an integral part of Sri Lanka’s transport system. Affordable and accessible, they serve millions of passengers daily. In the aftermath of accidents, these very drivers often find themselves among the first on the scene. Until now, most have lacked the formal training required to administer aid or respond effectively.

The programme seeks to change this, equipping drivers with life-saving first aid skills as well as defensive driving techniques. By focusing on these two aspects, organisers believe they can reduce fatalities while also professionalising the image of three-wheeler drivers, who often struggle with negative public perception.

“At Michelin, safety is not just a slogan, it is a value deeply embedded in our products and our operations,” said Michelin Lanka CEO & Managing Director Atul Renavika. “Through this project, we aim to support our extended community of three-wheeled vehicle drivers by providing essential safety and first-aid training. We are honoured to extend our dedication to safety in an effort to reduce road accident fatalities in Sri Lanka.”

A humanitarian imperative

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) has stepped in as a key partner, drawing from its long history of delivering first aid training across the country. For the Red Cross, the programme is more than just a road safety intervention, it is a humanitarian duty.

Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Director General Dr. Mahesh Gunasekera described the collaboration as both urgent and necessary. “The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society considers this initiative both timely and imperative. As a humanitarian organisation at the forefront of community service, we are committed to promoting and disseminating life-saving first aid knowledge nationwide. We are pleased to support this program through first aid training that strengthens road safety and enhances community well-being, in keeping with our humanitarian mandate.”

For the Red Cross, road accidents represent a public health crisis that affects families and communities far beyond the initial victims. By arming drivers with skills to stabilise accident victims before professional medical help arrives, the organisation hopes to bridge a critical gap in emergency response.

A law enforcement perspective

The Sri Lanka Police, too, has identified road safety as a national priority. With more than 1,800 deaths already this year, officers face the daily challenge of managing traffic, preventing accidents, and responding to emergencies. For the Police, partnerships like this one are essential in expanding their reach.

Sri Lanka Police DIG – Traffic Control and Road Safety Indika Hapugoda emphasised the importance of the training. “The majority of accidents we see involve vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. By training three-wheeler drivers, who are present on almost every road, we create a network of informed individuals who can both prevent accidents through safer driving and assist during emergencies. This is an important step towards our long-term goal of reducing traffic-related deaths in Sri Lanka.”

For the Police, this initiative also represents a shift towards prevention rather than enforcement alone. By instilling defensive driving habits, they hope to influence driver behavior in a way that laws and fines alone have struggled to achieve.

Building community trust

The involvement of the Western Province Governor’s Office adds another layer of community support to the project. For many citizens, road safety is not just a policy issue but a lived reality that affects families, livelihoods, and public trust.

Public Relations Officer at the Western Province Governor's Office Aruna Pradeep Kumara, reflected on this aspect: “Three-wheelers are part of the everyday lives of our people. By enhancing the professionalism of drivers through training, we are not only making the roads safer but also uplifting the dignity of the profession. This initiative helps foster respect between drivers, passengers, and the wider community.”

His remarks highlight a key focus of the initiative, changing how society perceives three-wheeler drivers. Too often blamed for reckless driving or congestion, the profession has struggled with negative stereotypes. Organisers hope that by equipping drivers with safety training and instilling a stronger sense of civic responsibility, the public’s view of them will shift positively.

The bigger picture

The training initiative comes at a time when Sri Lanka is grappling with broader road safety challenges. Rapid urbanisation, congested roads, poorly maintained infrastructure, and mixed traffic, with buses, trucks, motorcycles, and pedestrians all competing for limited space, have compounded risks.

The National Road Safety Plan emphasises education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency response as its four pillars. This project falls squarely within that framework, strengthening both education and emergency response.

While 500 drivers in the Western Province is only the beginning, the model is designed for scale. If expanded across provinces, thousands of drivers could become frontline safety ambassadors, creating a ripple effect that extends well beyond their daily work.

Looking ahead

The initiative represents a rare convergence of private industry, humanitarian organisations, and government institutions working towards a shared goal. For Michelin, it reflects a commitment to corporate responsibility. For the Red Cross, it is about saving lives. For the Police, it is about prevention and enforcement. And for the Governor’s Office, it is about community upliftment.

Together, they are betting on a simple but powerful idea: that better-trained drivers can make Sri Lanka’s roads safer for everyone.

As the programme rolls out in the Western Province, the organisers are hopeful that results will speak for themselves, reduced accidents, quicker responses to emergencies, and a newfound respect for three-wheeler drivers.

If successful, this initiative could mark a turning point in Sri Lanka’s long battle against road fatalities. For a country that loses nearly 2,000 lives each year to road accidents, that turning point cannot come soon enough.