Road Safety Management

(Sri Lankan Experience)

Presented by

J.M. Thilakarathna BandaDirector – Planning

Ministry of Transport - Sri Lanka

May, 2011

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)

Road safety

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

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 %

Classification2 wheelers & 3 wheelers - 63%Motor cars - 12%Trucks - 8%Mini buses, Vans Less than 20 seats - 6%Buses - 3%Other vehicles - 8%

Sri Lanka – Transport sector profile at a glance

SLTB 20% (Expected 40%) Private Bus 37 % Train 04 Motor bike & three wheelers 14 Other private vehicles 25

Market share of the public transport

Road Traffic Accidents – (Magnitude of the problem in Sri Lanka ) Some figures 2000 - 2009

150 Accidents daily21059 died (5-6 lost of lives daily) 179894 injured45922 seriously injured Around 2300 people are killed annuallyAround 25000 people sustain non-fatal injuries

annuallyApproximately 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 accidents were reported40,000 peoples died370,000 injured-out of which 68,440 seriously injured 1,000,000 vehicles damaged

Data source: Ministry of Health

Factors Influencing Traffic Accidents in Sri Lanka

• Increase of traffic(59% road accidents occur in western province within a radius of 50 km from Colombo city center)

• Unfavorable road conditions• Deficient systems and

regulations• Errant driving• Errant pedestrians • Mechanical defects of vehicles

Road Safety Management in Sri Lanka

• Institutional framework

• 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.

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.

Legal Framework

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

(6) Promote educational awareness and campaign program towards Road safety

Key participatory Stakeholders of NRSC

Ministry of TransportMinistry of HighwaysMinistry of EducationMinistry of Provincial Council and Local governmentDepartment of National planningDepartment of Motor TrafficDepartment of PoliceNational Transport CommissionUniversity of MoratuwaSri Lanka Transport BoardRoad Development AuthorityNational Transport Medical InstituteUrban Development AuthorityColombo Municipal CouncilInsurance Board of Sri LankaThe Ceylon Society foe prevention accidentsAutomobile 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 measures.

Maintain a data base on

vehicle population with compositionTraffic accidentsLocal 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

Main functions of NRSC

Adoption of proper Traffic Control Devices is crucially considered in Road Safety ManagementGuiding 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 LankaRoad 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 Management – Engineering Solutions

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 road’s function and useSafe 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 inspection of roadworthiness vehicles

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

• Improve driving & riding skills

Success or failure ?

with rapid increase of motor vehicle fleet and consequently alarming increase of RTA in recent few decades warns us , to rethink about RSM in the country

• Commitment of authorities to ensure an effective road safety 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;

Coordinationlegislation

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.