Cops to get tough on reckless drivers after recent accidents

• Police Spokesman explains Pannipitiya accident
• Says lorry driver was driving recklessly but says police cannot use violence
• Traffic laws to be amended   

By JAMILA HUSAIN   

Following the recent bus accident in Passara which claimed 15 lives and the reckless driving by the lorry driver in Pannipitiya which caused a police officer to become violent, the police have vowed to get tough on reckless drivers and bring in a demerit system on the driving license to save lives.  

Police Spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana told Daily Mirror that the police will look to amend the existing traffic laws to bring in further punishment against reckless and negligent driving but maintained that no police officer could become violent over any crime. 

Explaining the Pannipitiya accident, Rohana explained that the two concerned police officers - the Officer in Charge of traffic of the Maharagama Police and his PC were on duty that morning as this area had been identified as a vulnerable area due to it being heavily congested. While the traffic OIC had been controlling the traffic, the lorry, which was travelling from Kottawa towards Colombo had been coming in full speed, knocking the OIC, causing him to be severely injured. He was rushed to the Kalubowila Hospital where he is receiving treatment. 

Rohana said the lorry driver had been recklessly driving and had been negligent, and because of this could not control his vehicle on time. Rohana said seeing the OIC being critically injured, the PC present had lost his temper and had become violent which he maintained was wrong. “The police can arrest them, file a case against them and produce them in court but force can be used only if there is proportionate resistance. If not the police officers cannot use force,” Rohana said. He urged everyone to maintain road rules and said the police would get tough, according to the law, on those disobeying road rules.   

• The lorry driver had been recklessly driving and had been negligent, and because of this could not control his vehicle on time