As investigations continue into the recent fatal bus accident involving a group of General John Kotelawala Defence University Southern Campus undergraduates, investigators have revealed a disturbing fact about the circumstances under which the accident occurred. That is with regard to the bus driver’s eligibility to operate a bus. According to the information that has come to light, the driver does not have a valid driving licence at present. After his driving licence was suspended in August for driving under the influence of liquor, he had allegedly falsely reported that his driving licence was missing and had obtained a replacement driving licence.

While the precise factors that led to the accident are yet to be ascertained, a driver’s eligibility to operate a vehicle being in question raises serious concerns about passengers’ safety. This is not just a matter about bus operators or bus commuters. These tragedies should lead the country’s transport system to take existing flaws and inadequacies more seriously.

Sri Lanka's consideration of a demerit system for reckless or incompetent drivers is an important step towards improving road safety. The introduction of such a system has been in discussion for years, and several Governments have expressed willingness to implement the same. However, it is yet to be implemented at the national level and in a systematic, beneficial manner. Needless to say, such a system allows the authorities to penalise drivers for traffic violations, with accumulated points leading to penalties such as fines, licence suspension, or revocation. To implement this effectively, Sri Lanka could adopt a digital tracking system for violations, ensuring transparency and the ease of monitoring. Best practices from countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, where demerit points are linked to an individual's driving record, show that this system can reduce accidents and improve road discipline. Public awareness campaigns and proper training for law enforcement are crucial in this process.

In a context where road infrastructure development is a time and resource consuming process, especially for a cash-strapped country like Sri Lanka, such a system that can be implemented with little resources and time should be considered. Sri Lanka has discussed and devised plans regarding the same, and therefore, implementation would not be difficult.

At the same time, these types of tragedies can be a good starting point to expedite, strengthen, and streamline existing safety systems such as identifying reckless drivers through road located closed circuit television (CCTV) camera systems and speed guns. The authorities announced plans to monitor traffic law violators through the existing CCTV system and sending notices of fines to vehicle owners’ houses. It is high time that such processes be tightened, in order to stop reckless drivers before they could cause irreversible damage. In addition, with considerably smaller investment, the authorities can improve the existing road sign system, tighten speed limits, and raise awareness on basic best practices such as seat belts, which would also have some positive impact on road safety.

Road accidents are a result of a multitude of factors. If the country is to improve road safety and responsible driving practices, practical issues that go beyond laws, regulations, and road infrastructure should also receive attention. In the case of bus operators, one notable, concerning issue has been raised for years, although it is yet to attract the authorities’ attention. That is that bus drivers working on long-distance bus routes having little to no access to facilities to rest, have meals, and fulfil their basic sanitation needs, especially in remote areas. According to bus operators’ trade unions, these issues have a considerable impact on the bus operators’ ability to have adequate rest during long-distance trips, which needless to say, poses a threat to passengers’ safety. The authorities should expand the existing and future development projects to include such pressing needs. These are investments for the country’s overall road safety, as the lives of many lie in bus operators’ hands. At the same time, given the fact that operating buses is a stressful occupation, introducing physical and mental health checks as well as better insurance schemes are long-term investments concerning bus operators. 

Ensuring road safety is a collective effort. It involves addressing a multitude of issues, taking small yet effective steps, and the support of all the relevant stakeholders. In this context, instead of viewing ensuring road safety as a massive, complex task, the authorities should take measures with the resources that they have and include aspects of road safety in other related programmes.