last week, Road Safety Secretariat & Road Safety Fund to commence in June 2004)

Transcription

1 Proposal for a Land Transport Action Plan 2004/05 Traffic & Road Safety Management Joint Programs with Police 24 May 2004

2 Action Plan (as approved by HE President on April 30 th Buses (NTC, SLCTB) Railways(deferred) Road Safety (Strategic Action plan approved by Cabinet last week, Road Safety Secretariat & Road Safety Fund to commence in June 2004) Traffic Management (to form Traffic Management Committee Council to coordinate traffic related matters) Goods Transport th )

3 Present Day problems of the Bus Sector High Overloading during peak times High waiting time for buses Increased waiting Time at halts during off-peak times Intense competition leading to accidents Operating only at profitable times (no early morning, late night, rural buses) leading to housing issues & increase in three wheelers Fatality Rate per mn veh kms Motor Cycle Light Vehicle Lorry 415 Poor standard of buses used. Private Bus Bicycle 3 Wheeler 10 Unwanted elements control bus operations Car Other Vehicles Land Vehicle SLCTB Bus Forces Vehicle Private Lorry No of Vehicles invovled in Fatal Accidents Bus per 000' vehicles SLCTB & Other Light Vehicle Land Vehicle Fatality Rate per 000 Vehicles Motor Cycle Car 3 Wheeler per m n veh km s

4 Some strategic interventions requiring Police assistance Stopping overloading (1 st step traveling on footboard), proposed intervention from June 15 th. Registration of drivers & conductors and annual renewal. Proposed start July 1 st st. Maintain record of accidents & selected offences on database. Proposed start 15 th June Training classes for repeat offenders whose license will be suspended. Proposed start August 1st Stop Lingering at bus stops, proposed with new timetables starting June Picking up passengers from outside bus halts proposed with imporving bus halts from August.

5 Goals Road Safety Strategic Action Plan (as approved by Cabinet -18 May 04) Effective Institutional Structure and Finance Effective and Coordinated Management of Road Safety; Safe Roads for all Road Users; Disciplined Road Users; Competent Drivers; Roadworthy Vehicles; An Adequate Post Accident Care System

6 Effective Institutional Structure and Finance National Road Safety Secretariat to function under the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Civil aviation as the coordination unit for road safety activities. This unit to comprise the following staff; Coordinator for NRSS Accounting person; and Secretary for secretarial work Establishment a road safety fund as per clause number 213B of the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Act, No.5 of 1998

7 Effective and Coordinated Management of Road Safety Enactment of Required Legislation. Effective Enforcement of the Legislation Ensure Continuous & Adequate Availability of Funds Establishment of a Road Safety Information System for Coordination and Evaluation. Establishment of Road Safety Research and Development Programs; Continuous Training of Road Safety Personnel.

8 Safe Roads for all Road Users; Improve the safety aspects of road design standards for new roads and effect improvements to existing roads; Carry out Safety Audits and remedial actions for all existing roads to ensure minimum safety standards; Provide parking facilities at strategic locations. Parking Management Disciplined Road Users; Educational programs at schools; Public awareness campaigns;

9 Competent Drivers; Improved Standards for Training of Drivers and riders; Improved Drivers and Riders testing; Improve driving/riding skills. Roadworthiness of Vehicles; Improve the standards for registration of vehicles; Establish an effective inspection program for the inspection of roadworthiness of vehicles. An Adequate Post Accident Care System; Introduce a suitable post accident medical care system Improve the system of Insurance and compensation payments for accident damage.

10 Effective Enforcement 1. Suspend DL and move for Warrants when offenders evade summons 2. Immediate Communication to CMT all suspensions of DL by Courts 3. Introduce an electronic driver absconders register 4. Organize island wide apprehension operations of absconders. 5. Introduce electronic monitoring of fatal accidents at traffic HQs. 6. Daily updating of the Traffic Minor Offence Report at Police Station 7. Interaction with local authorities and CBOs to clear road obstructions/hazards 8. Establishment of 40 Traffic Courts/Tribunals island wide with computers links. 9. Introduce incentive scheme for traffic police on performance. 10. Introduce Selected Traffic Enforcement Programs (STEPs). 11.Installation of devices using modern technology to detect traffic offenders. 12. Improve detection techniques and eliminate alleged corruption. 13. Improve detection of drunk driving with Alco meters. 14.Increase Island wide traffic law enforcement

11 ANALYSIS OF ROAD ACCIDENTS IN SRI LANKA Motor Cycle 600 Light Vehicle Lorry Private Bus Bicycle Wheeler Car Other Vehicles Land Vehicle SLCTB Bus Forces Vehicle No of Vehicles invovled in Fatal Accidents ANALYSIS FOR 2001 & 2002 Prof. Amal S. Kumarage, University of Moratuwa Mr. S.M. Wickremasinghe, Director Traffic, Sri Lanka, Police Ms. M.D.R.P. Jayaratne, University of Moratuwa

12 Targeted geographic road safety campaigns for parts of the country where Road Safety is Poorest Even though the Western Province has the largest share of accidents, the North Western Province can be called the most unsafe for the road user and the residents when adjusted for transport activity levels and resident population. When analyzed this appears to be largely due to the intense use of motor cycles and lorrieswhen compared to other provinces. This province in particular appears to deserve a targeted road safety campaign for motor cycle riders and lorry drivers.

13 Targeted road safety campaigns for the most unsafe roads in Sri Lanka: The Police Divisions of Kelaniya, Gampaha, Colombo, Nugegoda, Kegalle and Chilaw have the highest number of serious accidents. These are also areas where the main trunk roads to Colombo are located. Thus a special enforcement campaign is seen as deserving the highest priority as these 400 kms of roads are host to over 1,200 (or nearly 60%) of all the fatal accidents. These roads are: Colombo Kandy Road A1 (up to and including Kegalle Police Division) Colombo Galle Road A2 (up to and including Kalutara Police Division) Colombo Puttalam Road A3 ( up to including Chilaw Police Division) and Colombo Ratnapura Road A4 ( up to and including Ratnapura Police Division) Since this length of roads is relatively small compared to the 100,000 kms of road network spread throughout the country, a focused program is a priority.

14 Special enforcement and awareness programs during periods of special events & national festivities: : This reports provides evidence that accidents increase sharply during times of special events such as holiday seasons and national festivities. Special traffic enforcement programs for these events in the proximity to such locations where such events takes place would also be a strategic approach. Special Programs for Weekend Traffic:Trunk Trunk Roadsgenerally have a higher accident rate from Friday to Monday when weekend related traffic is observed. This is particularly on trunk roads leading out of Colombo. As such, more intensive enforcement strategies may best be deployed during such times on such roads.

15 Specific Programs to target the most dangerous vehicles on our roads Private buses are by far the most dangerous and most lethal vehicle on our roads in terms of severity of accidents. In 2002, private buses were involved in 413 fatal accidents. Most vulnerable are the pedestrians and cyclists. Thus the bus is the most dangerous vehicle for non-motorized road users. Targeted enforcement programs and education programs are urgently needed to arrest this situation. On the other hand the motor cycle is found to be the most dangerous vehicle to use. There have been 339 fatal accidents involving the riders themselves. Thus emphasis of the use of safety equipment such as the use of the safety helmet and other general safety awareness should be directed at this group of road users.

16 Reducing Pedestrian Accidents: Among the victims of road accidents, the pedestrian appear to be most vulnerable with 815 deaths in In 95% of these cases the fault was with the vehicle driver/rider. In the case of cyclists too, of the 364 fatal accidents the cyclist was at fault in only 22% of the instances. In general it is seen that the bigger vehicle (or road user) is generally responsible for an accident with a smaller road user. Of the offending vehicles, for pedestrian casualties, the motor cycle is a dangerous vehicle. This is possibly due to riders trying to weave in and around pedestrians, without reducing speed. Light Vehicles too appear to cause many pedestrian deaths, possibly due to the high speeds at which they are driven. As such, campaigns that focus attention on driving habits of motor cyclists and van drivers which appear to jeopardize the pedestrian appears to be an important strategic intervention.

17 Reducing Speed Related Collisions Nearly 60% of serious accidents are caused by single vehicle accidents in which there is a collision with a pedestrian or a fixed object. These are usually due to vehicles traveling at speeds excessive for that point on the road and resulting in collisions with slow moving pedestrians or with road side objects after going out of control. Most of our roads have not been engineered for higher speeds. Some roads are unsafe even at the posted legal speed limit. Thus controlling speeds through physical measures such as speed reducing devices particularly in areas where there is heavy pedestrian activity is highly recommended to address this problem of speed related accidents. In less built up areas also speeding should be checked. This would of course require more enforcement effort and it is most necessary to improve on the strategies that are adopted as the traditional methods seem to have little effect.

18 The growing problem of Hit & Run Accidents: An alarming concern is that 1 in 11 serious accidents are classified as hit and run. The victims in most instances are hapless pedestrians and cyclists. In the case of pedestrian accidents that have resulted in deaths, nearly 1 in 6 accidents have been reported as hit and run. The vehicles identified in running away are mostly motor cycles and light vehicles. Perhaps fines or penalties for such action should be increased urgently to arrest this trend.

19 Drivers without License: A A further reason for accidents appears drivers/riders without the proper license. While 10% of driver/riders meeting with accidents are reported to be without a valid driving/riding license, this percentage increases to nearly 25% in the case of serious accidents. It is perhaps tragic that 1/4th of all deaths and serious injuries are caused by drivers/riders without a valid license. Thus intense inspection programs especially for vehicles such as motor cycles, vans and lorries that appear to have a high percentage of such unlicensed drivers should be intensified. Moreover, another ¼th of accidents are attributed to drivers having less than 3 years experience. In fact only 16% of serious accidents are due to drivers who have licenses that are older than 12 years.

20 Joint Traffic Management Program Parking Bans April to December 2003 Galle Road from April 2003 Negombo Road from July 2003 Kandy Road -? High Level Road-?

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25 No Parking Signs Galle Road Completed Negombo Road Completed High Level Road -? Kandy Road -? Colombo City -?

26 Alternative Parking Arrangements Dehiwela-Mt Lavinia MC has opened up parking in buildings Agreed to introduce by law for parking Colombo MC Agreed to introduce parking management

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29 Parking Enforcement Good results in some areas. Other areas only moderate results, complains that adequate officers not available. Tow truck used in Colombo and Mt Lavinia Divisions

30 Galle Road Parking April May June July August September October Month (2003) Colombo Mt Lavini March % Parking Com pliance

31 Road Improvements RDA Has completed 3 rd lane on Wellawatte Bridge Agreed to improve identified problems on High Level Road 11 junctions identified for improvement on Negombo Road. 1 Completed. CMC Agreed to develop Bambalapitya & Kollupitiya junctions.

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35 Future Plans in Action plan Extension of No Parking to other towns on Major Roads Extension of Prosecution to other violations of traffic rules-e.g. e.g. stopping, parking at junctions, lane discipline etc. Other proposals.

36 Flexible/Staggered Work Hours

37 Electronic Road Pricing

38 One- Way Syst ems

39 Bus Lanes

40 New Bus/Rail Stations

41 Reversible Lanes

42 LRT System

43 Automatic Traffic Control Systems

44 Conclusions Highest priority required by Police for Transport related issues. Regular Meetings at Secretary/IGP level. A A dedicated division/unit with senior officers with whom MoT and its agencies can work in close cooperation. MoT able to assist in procuring some equipment, etc required by Police (Rs 30 mn presently requested for 2004/05 + equipment under Nordic Aid)