The Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando instructed to the Police to take necessary steps to prevent accidents on expressways within six months. He instructed SSP Chinthaka Gunaratne on the matter in the wake of increasing accidents taking place in express ways.
The number of road accidents in Sri Lanka is currently high and the number of road accidents in the year 2021 shows a rapid increase compared to the year 2020, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando said.
In the year 2021, there have been 07 fatal accidents on the Sri Lankan expressways at Pinnaduwa, Aparekka, Kurundugahahetekma, Angunakolapelessa, Athurugiriya and Galanigama.
Nine of them have died.
The total number of road accidents in 2021 will be 461.
The total number of road accidents in the year 2020, including fatal accidents, was 308.
In the year 2020, there were 5 fatal accidents at Galanigama and Kurundugahahetekme and 05 of them were killed.
Minister Johnston Fernando drew the attention of the Minister to the construction of rest areas on the expressways as most of the accidents on the expressways are due to the driver falling asleep.
Drivers arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless and dangerous driving, speeding, driving without seat belts, driving while using a cell phone, or driving without a license are arrested at highways. In 2021, 79,904 cases were filed against him.
The Minister was informed by the officers of the police units established on the Expressway that the number of cases filed in the year 2020 is 66,252.
A discussion was held with the Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando and the officers of the Highways Operations Maintenance and Management Division and the Police Units established on the Highways at the auditorium of the Ministry of Highways recently.
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