Road Safety

Management
(Sri Lankan Experience)

Presented by
J.M. Thilakarathna Banda
Director Planning
Ministry of Transport - Sri Lanka

May,
2011

Road safety
In recent few decades, increasing trends of road traffic accidents in world
wide has paved the way to nations to look into this issue severely.
1.3 mn - deaths annually (more than 3000 each day)
50% of these people are not travelling by a car
90% road traffic deaths occur in low and middle income countries. These
countries claim less than 50% of registered vehicle fleet in the world
RT injuries are among the three leading causes of deaths for people
between 5 and 44 years of age.
UN general assembly has declared 2011 -2020 as the decade of action
for road safety
(Date source: Global plan for the decade of action for road safety
2011-2020, UN)

To prevent RTA in a country, an adequately funded lead agency and a national

plan or strategy with measurable targets are crucial. In view of the Global
plan for the Decade of Action for road safety -2011 -2020, Some of effective
interventions are as follows:
Incorporating road safety features into land-use
Urban planning and Transport planning
Designing safer roads and requiring road safety audits for new construction
projects
Effective speed management by police and through the use of traffic
calming measures
Setting and enforcing internationally harmonized laws requiring the use of
seat belts, helmets and child restraints.
Setting and enforcing blood alcohol concentration limits for drivers
Improving post crash care for victims of road crashes
Public awareness programs for supporting the enforcement of legislative
measures

Sri Lanka Transport sector profile

at a glance
Length of Highways in Sri Lanka 100,000 Km
approximately

Length of Rail lines

1449 KM
No. of Motor vehicles registered in 2007
3,125,794
No. of motor vehicles operated
2.2 mn
Annual growth rate of vehicles
6-8%
Classification
2 wheelers & 3 wheelers
- 63%
Motor cars
- 12%
Trucks
- 8%
Mini buses, Vans Less than 20 seats - 6%
Buses
- 3%
Other vehicles - 8%

Market share of the public

transport
SLTB
Private Bus
Train

20% (Expected 40%)

37 %
04

Motor bike & three wheelers 14

Other private vehicles

25

Road Traffic Accidents (Magnitude

of the problem in Sri Lanka )
Some figures 2000 - 2009
150 Accidents daily
21059 died (5-6 lost of lives daily)
179894 injured
45922 seriously injured
Around 2300 people are killed annually
Around 25000 people sustain non-fatal injuries
annually
Approximately 75% road accidents are due to
human
errors

Death by Road user category

Drivers and riders
41%
Pedestrians
33%
Passengers
26%
During Last 30 years (from 1977 to 2007)
1,120,848
40,000
370,000
injured
1,000,000

accidents were reported

peoples died
injured-out of which 68,440 seriously
vehicles damaged

Data source: Ministry of Health

Factors
IncreaseInfluencing
of traffic
Traffic
(59%
road accidents occur
western
province within
Accidents
in inSri
Lanka
a

radius of 50 km from Colombo city center)

Unfavorable road conditions

Deficient systems and
regulations
Errant driving
Errant pedestrians
Mechanical defects of vehicles

 Institutional framework
Road Safety Management in
Sri Lanka
Engineering solutions
Education & Public
awareness

Road Safety Management - Institutional

Framework
Transport Policy- Road safety is a matter of great
concern in Transport policy in Sri Lanka.
Ministry of Transport -Involving with all matters
pertaining to safe and reliable passenger transport
service in the country is one of the main functions
of the ministry. Hence road safety has been
identified as a shared responsibility at national,
regional, and local levels.
National Road Safety Secretariat - To improve
the road safety situation of Sri Lanka the Ministry of
Transport and Highways established the National
Road Safety Secretariat (NRSS) in 1966.

Legal Framework

Traffic Act-Regulations published in the Government

Gazette No.444/19 dated 13/03/1987 under Section 237
along with Section 164 of the Motor Traffic Act is the basis
for providing traffic control devices at present.
These regulations were gazetted to introduce necessary
amendments to incorporate International Traffic Control
Devices agreed upon for adoption at the UN Conference
on Road Traffic held in VIENNA on 08/11/1968.
The Traffic Control Devices that are being adopted in Sri
Lanka are those that were agreed at the Convention for
adoption in the Asian Region.

National Council for Road Safety - In 1999, the National

Council for Road Safety (NCRS) was established as per Motor
Traffic (Amendments) Act No. 05 of 1998. NRSC is operating
since 2004.
NCRS POLICIES
(1) Road safety to be given political priority
(2) Effective legislation to ensure maximum Road safety
standards
(3) Strict enforcement of Road safety regulations
(4) Promote Road safety strategy for health promotion
(5) Motor vehicles to meet with safety standards

Key participatory Stakeholders of NRSC

Ministry of Transport
Ministry of Highways
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Provincial Council and Local government
Department of National planning
Department of Motor Traffic
Department of Police
National Transport Commission
University of Moratuwa
Sri Lanka Transport Board
Road Development Authority
National Transport Medical Institute
Urban Development Authority
Colombo Municipal Council
Insurance Board of Sri Lanka
The Ceylon Society foe prevention accidents
Automobile Association of Ceylon

Vision
SAFE ROAD FOR ALL
Mission
TO PROMOTE A SOCIEITY FREE OF ROAD ACCIDENTS
Objectives
Interact with Government and Non Government agencies on
the National Road Safety Policy
Develop and Enact comprehensive regulations to prevent road
accidents
Technical and financial support to implement road safety
policy
The coordination of activities with multi disciplinary
organization to promote road safety
A procedure for the implementation of economically,
technically and socially viable and environment friendly safety

Main functions of NRSC

Maintain a data base on
vehicle population with composition
Traffic accidents
Local and international statistics on road safety
Maintain a library on the subject of road safety
Collate information and conduct research and surveys on
related subjects
Assist researches on related subjects
Liaise with similar international institutions & share experience

Road Safety Management Engineering

Solutions

Adoption of proper Traffic Control Devices is crucially considered in Road

Safety Management
Guiding the road users and thereby improve safety and efficiency of highways.
Enhancing the orderly movement of motorized, non-motorized, and pedestrian
traffic.
Maintain uniformity in application of traffic controlling measures.

Development of Manuals on Traffic Control Devices for Sri Lanka

Road Development Authority (RDA) of Sri Lanka has been focusing attention on
the
need for a
manual of Traffic Signs and Markings since 1992.
First Manual on Traffic Control Devices was published in 1997, which was in
conformity with the
stipulations given in the Vienna Convention.
Revision was carried out to the above Manual in 1999 paying particular reference
to
the proposed expressways.
Currently used Manual was published in 2003 through a continuous development
process, whilst maintaining the original sequence of presentation and ensuring the
provisions of the revised Vienna Convention of 1995.

Road Safety Audit is the main methodology adopted

in Sri Lanka for Selection of appropriate safety measures
and RSA are conducted
- to examine the accident potential and safety
performance
of a new road projects
- to identify safety deficiencies of an existing road,
which are not consistent with the roads function and use
Safe roads for all road users
- Improve the safety aspects of road design
standard for new
roads & effective improvements to
existing roads
- carry out safety audits and remedial actions for
all existing
roads to ensure minimum safety standard
- Providing parking facilities at strategic locations
- Parking management
Road worthiness vehicles
- Improve the standard for vehicle
registrationEffective
inspection program for the

Road Safety Management

Education and Public Awareness

Disciplined road users

Continuous training of road safety

personnel

Educational programs at schools

Public awareness campaign

Improved standard for training of

drivers and riders

Success or failure ?
with rapid increase of motor vehicle fleet and consequently
alarming increase of RTA in recent few decades warns us , to
Commitment of authorities to ensure an effective road safety
rethink
about RSM in the country
management

Revision on achieving a strong results focus through their

institutional management
Clear identification of: a lead agency/department; the core
group of Government ministries and agencies to be involved
The core groups roles and responsibilities defined
high-level strategic review of performance
definition of a long term safe system goal etc.
Long-term governmental ownership, leadership and political
commitment.

For a better future

There are further areas to formalize concerning
institutional management functions such as;
Coordination
legislation
funding and resource allocation
promotion
monitoring and evaluation and
research and development and
knowledge transfer etc.
These functions should be delivered primarily by the
government agencies producing interventions with civil
society partnerships for successful results-focused
intervention.

Parliament SELECT Committee

SELECT Committee was appointed recently
for look into the alarming increase of Traffic
Accidents in Sri Lanka. The committee
provided guidance for preparing a National
road safety action plan was prepared.

National Action Plan For road Safety

As per the guidance of the parliamentary Select
committee National road safety action plan was
prepared .
In line with the Global plan for the Decade of
Action for road safety -2011 -2020, Strategic
actions were formulated stand on 5 pillars as
follows:

Road safety Management

Safer road and mobility
Safer vehicles
Safer road users
Post crash responses

National Road Safety Conference

organized by the Ministry of Transport with
the assistance of World Health Organization
was held on 11th May 2011 in Colombo .
The Conference was declared opened by His
Excellency the President of Sri Lanka.
UN decade of Road safety was launched
officially in Sri Lanka at the conference by
the His Excellency, the president.