There is a significant increase in the number of road accidents and road accidents related deaths in Sri Lanka according to statistics. So far this year over 2300 persons died due to road traffic accidents. The total number of road accidents reported in the year 2022 was over 19,000. Most of victims were motorcycle riders & pillion riders, Three-wheel drivers & passengers and pedestrians.

According to police 2,389 people have died in fatal road accidents between January and December 2022.

Statistics show that the most deaths are from motorcycle accidents. About 2,839 people died in 2019, 2,563 people died in 2020 and 2,513 people died in 2021 due to road accidents. There has been some reduction in fatal traffic accidents in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to the fact that many vehicles were not plying on the road due to the Covid situation, fuel crisis and the economic crisis.

Police says that it is possible to save those lives and requested the motorists to drive in strict accordance with the rules of the road and to drive carefully and attentively on the road. More traffic police officers have been deployed to prevent accidents and control traffic during the festive season.

According to Sri Lanka Police statistics about seven to eight people die each day due to accidents. Some time this figure goes to 11 deaths per day. Due to road accidents about 40 persons injured each day. The total number of vehicles registered in the country recorded as 8.3 million and out that 60% listed as Motorcycles. In 2017 Sri Lanka’s motor vehicle population was 7.2 million.

Increase in Road Traffic Accidents in Sri Lanka.
* A road accident in Sri Lanka every 10 minutes.
* Daily 8 Persons killed in Road Accidents.
* Every 3 days, Child dies of Road Accidents.
* Every 5 days, Person dies on Pedestrian Crossing.

(LankaXpress.com )