15 Fatalities due to Road Traffic Accidents in 24-hours: Police

COLOMBO (News 1st): The highest number of fatalities due to road traffic accidents in the recent past were reported in the 24-hour window that ended on Friday morning (Feb. 19), Sri Lanka Police said. According to Police, 15 people were killed in road traffic accidents during the said period. "Of the 15 fatalities, eight deaths were reported due to road traffic accidents that occurred on Thursday (Feb. 18), and seven deaths were due to traffic accidents reported on previous days," Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st. Approximately 40 people sustain injuries from road traffic accidents regularly. According to DIG Ajith Rohana, 120-125 accidents are reported daily; however, he emphasized that this is the reported number, meaning the actual number of road traffic accidents reported daily could be even higher. "The reasons for road traffic accidents are excessive speed, drunk driving, disobeying road rules and regulations, negligence and reckless driving. Therefore, Sri Lanka Police will conduct special traffic operations to monitor the situation relating to road accidents," the Deputy Police Chief pointed out. He further urged the people to take precautionary action in order to prevent road traffic accidents. Furthermore, a demerit points system will be introduced soon, in a bid to curtail traffic accidents, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana noted.