In a paradoxical turn of events, it was while cricketing legends from several countries were batting for Road Safety in India that Sri Lanka suffered one of its worst bus accidents in recent times when a passenger transport bus plunged down a 200-feet deep precipice close to the 13th milepost along the Badulla-Monaragala main road in Passara killing 14 commuters and injuring 31, some seriously. 

Among those killed or injured were men, women and children and the calamity took place on Saturday, March 20, 2021 a day before the finals scheduled to be played between Sri Lanka and India. The video footage from CCTV cameras showed that the accident could have been easily avoided if the drivers, of the tipper-truck and the private bus carrying some 70 passengers travelling in opposite directions, were more mindful of road rules. Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said the preliminary investigations had revealed that driver-negligence was the cause of the accident.

Incidentally, The Road Safety World Series or RSWS is a T20 cricket competition featuring retired cricketers and is organised by the Road Safety Cell of Maharashtra to raise awareness about road safety. The current edition of the series features notable retired players from India, England, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, Australia and Bangladesh with Sunil Gavaskar, former Indian captain, being the commissioner of the series, while Sachin Tendulkar is its brand ambassador and Ravi Gaikwad is the founder of the Road Safety World Series.

The tragedy that occurred at Passara highlights not only the paramount importance of motorists ensuring road safety but also the immediate need to do much more to instill discipline in motorists, especially when considering those who repeatedly violate road rules, driving more like maniacs while caring little or nothing about pedestrians or other road users, so many of whom have lost their lives even on pedestrian crossings because of reckless, irresponsible and egoistic driving often under the influence of liquor. 

Among those who, for no fault of theirs, lost their lives in the Passara tragedy, were 46-year-old Anthony Noah and his wife Benedict Merona from Lunugala. They left behind their three orphaned children, aged eight, seven and three, now being cared for by an ailing grandmother. Who will take the responsibility for such heart-breaking tragedies, which in the first place should never have been allowed to happen though when it does there always begins the blame game which takes us nowhere and is of no use to those who paid with their lives or those left behind -- children without their parents or parents without their children all because of someone’s recklessness or someone’s negligence? 

While committees, authorities and officials cite causes varying from the delay by the road authorities to remove rock that had fallen on the road, reckless driving, irregular time tables, failure to implement safety measures to not following quarantine guidelines in public transport, the truth is that the grieving families of the 14 bus passengers had lost their loved ones

Underscoring the need and reason for disciplined motorists, the Police said recently that some 520 people had died in road accidents during the first three months of this year with a daily death toll of 10; frightening indeed. Another 1,054 accidents had resulted in victims suffering serious or in some cases minor injuries.

The Moratuwa University’s Transport and Logistics Management Department Senior Lecturer T. Sivakumar said it was important to introduce a de-merit system, which would reduce reckless driving. He said provincial transport authorities should monitor long distance time tables and provide regular training to bus drivers belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and the private bus companies.

 “Road safety audits should be made mandatory at design and construction levels and while the transport system was in operation,” Dr. Sivakumar told the media and pointed out that audits should be carried out by an independent body. 

The March 20 tragedy is sadly reminiscent of the major tragedy that occurred in April 2005 when a crowded bus collided with an intercity passenger train on a level crossing at Polgahawela killing at least 50 bus passengers and injuring 40, most of them seriously.

According to investigations the bus had been racing with another bus and attempted to cross the railway tracks despite the gate being closed and the light green for the oncoming express train. The bus like that in the Passara tragedy was reduced to a mangled heap of metal.

When will our motorists learn from past incidents? Till they do they are bound to repeat them at the cost of more human lives lost and grieving families.