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by Arjuna Jayaweera, Faculty of Engineering, Melbourne University

All humans need to travel, be it for work, pleasure or chores. The cheapest of all methods is the use of roads. It is the most convenient means of travel for most Sri Lankans. This can be seen by the increase in the number of vehicles in SriLanka in the recent past.

Thus the problem we are facing worsens every second it is ignored. As the number of people using our roads increase the problem becomes even more relevant for the whole nation.

David Pratte states that many people are concerned about their likelihood of being killed or injured in road traffic accidents, and many more about the similar risk to their families and friends. People are also aware of the possibility that road traffic accidents may cause death, disability or injury to others. There is, therefore, concern about road safety among a high proportion of the world's population, and this concern is not misplaced.

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are the leading cause of deaths in adolescents and young adults globally (Mohan and Romer 1991). The World Bank (1993) estimates that of the 865,000 traffic deaths occurring annually worldwide (an extremely conservative estimate by some accounts), 74 per cent are in developing countries. Furthermore, while RTA rates and related death and disability are decreasing in most industrialised countries, they are increasing rapidly in many less developed countries (LDCs).

Road traffic mortality increased by more than 200 per cent in African countries and by 150% in Asian countries between 1968 and 1983, while they decreased by more than 20 per cent in Europe over the same period (Ross 1991). RTAs also exert a considerable economic burden on developing countries, estimated to cost 1-4 per cent of a country's GNP per annum (Zwi 1993).

Road traffic accidents are a perfect example of a 'disease of development', which is far more prevalent in developing countries than in developed ones. Road traffic-related morbidity and mortality have traditionally been regarded as a problem primarily of industrialised countries (Soderlund and Zwi 1995). There is, however, growing evidence of a strong negative relationship between economic development and exposure-adjusted traffic-related death rates. In other words, after adjusting for motor vehicle numbers, it appears that the poorest countries show the highest road traffic-related morbidity and mortality rates.

Due to its perception road traffic accidents - and related injuries - tend to be under-recognised as major health problems in developing countries. However, the World Bank's World Development Report (1993) and the World Health Organisation's The Global Burden of Disease (1996) both highlight the worldwide burden of traffic-related injuries and mortality, emphasizing their importance in less developed countries. The WHO predicts that road traffic accidents will rise from the ninth leading 'burden of disease' in 1990 to the third leading cause in 2020 worldwide.

Among males in the economically active age group, motor vehicle injuries are considered to be the third most important cause of death in developing countries, the first two being tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS (Soderlund and Zwi 1995). Mortality from RTAs accounts for 10 per cent of all deaths in the 5-44 year age group.

National problem

The problem faced by us is much more severe than the countries mentioned above. Many of them are industrial countries and so they have been able to solve this problem partially. But we on the other hand face a frightening task of facing the somewhat unknown and ignored problem of road traffic accidents.

Everyday 5.6 commuters die and 10.1 commuters are grievously injured in traffic accidents. That is a human dies every 4 hours due to a traffic accident. This is a tragic loss considering many youths who also die in the North. The cost of lives destroyed is almost as high as by the war. Yet we continue to ignore this problem. And the death for us to take action. It has steadily risen for the last 10 years increasing the burden accidents bring on us.

The number of grievous accidents is also on the rise. Even though the importance of these accidents are taken lightly is very significant. Considering some of these casualties die later or become disabled and need high medical treatment they as serious as fatal accidents.

Teenage deaths

11.23 per cent of the commuters dying are in their teens, many of them whilst travelling to school at the time of these accidents. This problem thus is destroying our most valuable wealth. A high number of students die in traffic accidents. It is sad that such a proportion of youths ready to enter the world die at such a tender age without a chance to experience life fully.

Accidents also cause a severe burden on the workforce. 59.22 per cent of deaths involve the work force. Accidents cause casualties in every age group.

Fixing a price on a human life is impossible. We cannot allow such a valuable resource to be destroyed in such an unworthy manner. It is a crime that we keep ignoring such a costly problem that can be solved.

The human cost which accidents cause can be seen above. It is sad that such a proportion of people in Sri Lanka suffer from accidents. And yet these accidents are only a slight proportion of the total accidents taking place. Many do not cause injuries. The proportions of non-injury accidents of 1980-1999 are shown below.

As in the graphs above most Accidents involve non-injury collisions. Even though the impacts of such collision may be less important than the others it still causes significant impact to the victims and our country as a whole.

Financial impact

All of the vehicles in our roads are of foreign origin costing us a great deal of money to import them. Many collisions lead to either repairing or replacing of the vehicles. The high cost of parts and repairs or the cost of buying new vehicles results in the draining of the economy of our country. The other unfortunate aspect is that many middle class families with vehicles tend to struggle due to the financial strain of the accidents.

Considering that an accident causes Rs. 5,000 on average the cost of these accidents are clear to see. With the number of accidents resulting in damages to vehicles on the rise financial impact would become increasingly significant. Hopefully, it will be enough to cause a significant change in attitude towards preventing accidents.

Even though a majority of accidents does not cause injury they cause severe damage to property and psychological stress to the occupants. Many feel a false sense of security prior to an accident. The new sense of vulnerability can lead to fears of facing the road 10 females and 10 males were questioned about the stress they endured after an accident.

Though males deal better the effect can cause severe stress in any case. The fact that accidents in roads can happen to them causes a sense of insecurity that may lead to further accidents.

The impact of accidents on everybody is clear to see. It is a problem apparently insignificant but on proper research it is one of the leading causes of death around the world. And this problem seems unlikely to disappear. The number of accidents is rising and will continue to do so until proper attention is given to the problem.

Drink and drive

This is the leading cause of accidents around the world. The unawareness of the driver due to drinking can cause fatal accidents. Alcohol desensitizes the brain and cause reduction in ability to react. Thus the driver is not capable of taking evasive manoeuvres and end up in accidents. Since drivers are not prosecuted regularly for driving under alcohol these accidents are hard to prevent, and many under estimate the effect of alcohol.

Alcohol is a potent non-prescription drug sold to anyone over the national legal drinking age. This drug is a tranquillizer and a member of the family of sedative-hypnotic drugs. Temperate and occasional users of alcohol who are in normal health do not appear to suffer negative effects from use of alcohol. Consumed in substantial amounts, alcohol's toxicity may be because it acts as a foreign substance in the body's metabolism.

The short-term expression of this toxicity is felt as a hangover. The long-term toxicity may develop into alcoholism and alcohol-related diseases such as cirrhosis.

Alcohol moves from the blood stream into every part of the body that contains water, including major organs like the brain, lungs, kidneys, and heart, and distributes itself equally both inside and outside of cells.

Only 5 percent of alcohol is eliminated from the body through the breath, urine, or sweat; the rest is oxidized or broken down in the liver. Within moments of ingestion, alcohol reaches the brain where it.

* Stimulates and agitates, initially producing euphoria

* Depresses and sedates, producing calmness and tranquillity

* Anaesthetizes

* Induces a hypnotic state and sleep

Alcohol quickly depresses inhibitions and judgement. Alcohol adversely affects motor ability, muscle function, reaction time, eyesight, depth perception, and night vision. Since these are the abilities needed to operate a motor vehicle and since even moderate amounts of alcohol impair these abilities, drivers should never drink and drinkers should not drive.

Insufficient qualifications

There are two main culprits in this regard.

* Drivers without licences

* Drivers without adequate skill

Due to the mismanagement of officials in the road many under aged and non-qualified drivers are able to drive on our roads. Even if they are caught the more than likely result is the release of the culprits due to connections he or she has. And connections are what all Sri Lankans have. This unfortunate state of events has meant that many of the drivers on the road are non-qualified. Is it then a wonder that accidents are as wide spread as they are?

Unfortunately even the drivers with licences are not properly trained. Many are able to get licences from high-ranking officials even without any test of their skill. Even the people who obtain the licence by legal means are very unlikely to be trained properly. The theory test involves a simple MCQ in which only 75% is needed to pass. And the practical requires very little driving skill to pass.

Even though the test is one of the easiest in the world Sri Lanka has one of the most hostile driving environments in the world. Many drivers cannot cope confidantly in our roads even with the licence.

Non-management of laws

Well this is a topic does not need to be explained to Sri Lankans. Unfortunately laws and regulations seldom apply in our roads. Breaking the speed limit can be done without hesitation, as there aren't any policemen with adequate equipment to catch the offenders. And even if caught a small bribe can take care of everything.

Unfortunately the only people who suffer if any are the law-bidding drivers and policemen who try to enforce the law, while lawbreakers get away. The minority of policemen trying to abide the law faces the insults of motorists and harassments by high officials not to prosecute law-breakers. But unfortunately the culprits cannot get away from inevitable accidents they encounter due to their irresponsible driving. 15 people were questioned on their interpretation of the law.

We may say that nothing is perfect and be content with situation. But being content will be the end of any improvements to this system we can bring.

Standard of roads

The story of vehicles falling into sheer drops is not unusual. These tragic incidents cause a large death toll.

This mainly occurs in the central province where all the roads are along cliff sides. Many of these roads have little or no railings and even fewer have adequate notification of incoming blind bends. And the fact that many of these roads have no lighting at all worsens the problem.

The southwestern monsoons cause severe rain in the area. These can cause erosion and slippery roads that also poses a significant challenge to all drivers.

In the rat race of the 21st century time is everything and all drivers seem to be in hurry. The unwarned bend thus can be a deadly trap to many.

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