There was a decrease in the number of fatal accidents reported during the first 6 months of 2019 when compared to the first six months of last year, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Speaking to the media at a news briefing yesterday (3) at the Police Headquarters (HQ), he said 1, 552 fatal accidents were reported during the first six months of 2018 including 1, 632 fatalities while 1, 281 fatal accidents have been reported this year with 1, 374 fatalities.

Therefore, the police had decided to launch a month-long special operation from July 5 to arrest drunk drivers in order to reduce roadside accidents.

Breathalyser devices used to measure blood alcohol content had also been imported newly and were distributed among police divisions to help them carry out detections and arrest drunk motorists. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)