Minister rules out darkness on expressways cause accidents

• Says slow moving vehicles also one of the reasons for accidents on expressways

By Ajith Siriwardana

While ruling out claims that accidents on expressways are caused due to darkness, Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardane said yesterday that expressways are not usually illuminated anywhere in the world.

He told the weekly cabinet briefing that most accidents on expressways are caused due to overspeeding.   

The Minister said according to international expressway standards, the expressways are dark and that only interchanges and service stations are illuminated.   

“We had a meeting with experts and relevant institutions such as the police at the ministry yesterday to discuss accidents on expressways. The experts pointed out that most accidents in expressways are caused due to overspeeding, while overtaking vehicles that are travelling less than the speed expected on expressways and not adhering to road rules. We are expecting to introduce new rules and regulations to be adhered to on expressways within two weeks,” he said.    The Minister said the experts pointed out that according to international expressway standards, the expressways are dark and only reflective boards are used.   

He said as a practice, countries illuminate expressways leading to the city from the main airport and that going by that, steps were taken to illuminate the Katunayake Expressway.    “During the Covid pandemic, copper current cables were stolen. Now, steps are being taken to lay aluminum cables for power transmission,” he said.