Sri Lanka is routinely reminded about the appalling state of public transport safety in the island. Often it only results in many, including some in the new Government expressing shock and frustration, and the episode ends there. 

We don’t get to see the fast-moving policy changes which are necessary to ensure public transport safety. However, Sri Lanka’s public sector passenger transport mode share has been gradually dwindling, with significant gaps in service quality and priority policies, driving people more towards private-sector motorised vehicle usage. This shift comes with dire externalities and economic consequences affecting the overall national economy.

Safety in public transport is a major issue, and one that this Government pledged to address. Last January, reports of a collision involving three buses at Angulugaha Junction in Imaduwa, Galle, which left at least 29 passengers injured and in need of hospitalisation flashed on the news. The incident involved two private buses and one office transport bus. Reports indicate that the accident occurred when one bus was stationary, and another crashed into it from behind, followed by a third bus crashing into the second one. According to hospital sources, 23 passengers have been admitted to Imaduwa Hospital, while six others are receiving treatment at Karapitiya Hospital. As usual, authorities announced that they are conducting further investigations into the incident. A week later, a private passenger bus travelling from Kattankudy to Colombo was involved in an accident in front of the Kallar Army camp in the Serunuwara area on the Serunuwara-Kantale road. Police said that the accident occurred when the bus veered off the road due to heavy rain, hit a tree on the side of the road, and toppled. There were about 49 passengers onboard, and 14 passengers, as well as the bus driver and conductor, were admitted to the Serunuwara Divisional Hospital for treatment. Later, the driver and nine passengers were transferred to the Trincomalee District General Hospital for further treatment. Each week, Sri Lankans are reminded of the horrors of our mismanaged public transport system, and the cost in lives and limbs we pay each year on them.

As such, it is refreshing to see the current Government, using the parliamentary bodies and through the relevant ministries have begun to make changes to transport policy, and are seeking to change the status quo. The need to regulate the procedure for issuing fitness/roadworthy certificates for public transport buses along with the necessity of enforcing vehicle construction-related regulations was discussed at Parliament recently. A Parliamentary committee stressed the need to establish a formal procedure for the testing/verification and licensing of public transport vehicles, its roadworthiness and build standards. Discussions were held regarding aspects such as the required spacing between seats, the removal of unnecessary equipment, and the installation of seat belts on both newly imported and existing buses. Furthermore, attention was drawn to the necessary steps to enhance the professionalism of public transport drivers. Attention was also drawn to strengthening the necessary legal provisions for enforcing the law against the use of drugs by bus drivers. Officials mentioned that regulations relevant to this matter under the Motor Traffic Act are currently in the final stage of preparation. The need to promptly implement these regulations and to properly establish the technological mechanisms required to detect drug substances in the bodies of drivers were highlighted, which is a commendable move.

Several reforms including the installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite navigation systems and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera systems in buses and making seat belts mandatory for bus drivers have been proposed during a stakeholder meeting chaired by the Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake with the participation of the Chairpersons of the National Transport Commission (NTC), the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), and the relevant Road Passenger Transport Authorities (RPTAs) of all provinces. Decisions taken include; the regularising of the installation of GPS and CCTV for buses; formalising a methodology for online ticket booking; conducting random drug and alcohol tests on bus drivers; preparing specifications for passenger transport buses; making seat belts mandatory for bus drivers, amongst others. 

Let us hope these measures are rolled out quickly and effectively. And we must give credit where it is due.