Private buses in WP should be painted blue after April 1

27 March 2019 02:42 am - 26 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority said yesterday new laws would be introduced from April 1 to make it compulsory to paint private buses in blue.

They would be provided a grace period of two months from April 1 to remove additional items such as stickers, paintings, sound systems and extra horns.

Road Passenger Transport Authority Chairman Thusitha Kularatne said private buses could be easily identified if they had a distinct colour. He said blue was chosen as it was pleasing to the eyes and would reduce road accidents to some extent.

“Multi-coloured private buses with colourful stickers have resulted in several accidents, as the bus drivers in other buses get drawn to these distractions,” Mr. Kularatne said. and added that laws would be introduced to remove all the additional itemss other than those approved by the Department of Motor Traffic.

He said it was essential to have a suitable environment for passengers to travel in private buses in the Western Province and added that seats should be provided for pregnant women, clergy and disabled persons.

About 6,000 private buses operate on 475 bus routes in the Western Province alone.

At the end of the grace period, legal action would be taken against those violating the new laws. It may result in cancelling or suspending the route permits. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

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Comments - 26

sam silva Wednesday, 27 March 2019 03:37 AM

How could a color change a reckless or a lunatic driver ?

Paul YOUNG Wednesday, 27 March 2019 05:35 AM

In Sri Lanka the buses are the lorries.

joke Wednesday, 27 March 2019 05:58 AM

Joke for the 1st no!!?

Ranjith De Silva Wednesday, 27 March 2019 06:06 AM

Very good decision.

Tt Wednesday, 27 March 2019 06:30 AM

Can't you increase the quality of these buses and increase buses in essential routes

Sumedh Aryaratne Wednesday, 27 March 2019 07:07 AM

This is not enough they will have to teach the drivers and conductors discipline / respect and cleanliness.... 4 basic things they lack

JC Wednesday, 27 March 2019 07:13 AM

Unbelievable that such stupidity and incompetence pervades our lawmakers and rulers. Reasons for accidents is simple. Driver's dont obey the rules, police are not interested in stopping them (not least because busses are owned by politicos, policemen and thugs). Private busses should be strictly regulated and drivers paid a salary instead of getting a percentage of total daily earnings. That is the very reason they drive so recklessly, to beat the other bus to the passengers at the next stop.

Sambo Wednesday, 27 March 2019 07:17 AM

Dear Sir, We don't agree with changing the color of the bus will change anything and the cost that will have to be incurred for the painting will be very high. Please try to remove those large speakers installed inside busses which gives the commuters a headache and make them dizzy for the high sound.

Arnold Wednesday, 27 March 2019 07:32 AM

Good move.

ram Wednesday, 27 March 2019 07:56 AM

what about colour change to CTB.

Emil van der Poorten Wednesday, 27 March 2019 08:00 AM

Talk about Nero fiddling while Rome burns! The problem is not the colour of private buses distracting other drivers, it is simply a question of unbelievably reckless driving by often-inebriated drivers that is causing the carnage on our roads People who make these kinds of decisions should be checked for inebriation and/or mental incapacity.

mnsmart Wednesday, 27 March 2019 08:06 AM

This will be just a law as usual, what happened to three wheel stickers?

Unchikun Wednesday, 27 March 2019 08:18 AM

Is this the international standard the minister was referring to.

Mohamed Gazzaly Mohamed Thariq Wednesday, 27 March 2019 08:22 AM

Seat size is not sufficient, too small and painful for long journey. Two or three persons cannot sit in double and triple seats .

suneth Wednesday, 27 March 2019 08:28 AM

Not only this. These bus drivers should be undergone a training on Driving Discipline.

Sara Wednesday, 27 March 2019 08:32 AM

Very good initiative!

saliya Wednesday, 27 March 2019 08:40 AM

would it be changed to green after the next elections

R.Daya Wednesday, 27 March 2019 08:42 AM

Guys, don't worry about the color, concentrate on disciplining the drivers/conductors to respect the travelers, overspending, hooting the horn, reckless driving etc.,. Sri Lanka's public transport is one of worst where the public is harassed.

Bravo Wednesday, 27 March 2019 09:10 AM

Learning from mistakes...It should be other way..However the late act is appreciated. Also the silencers of these private buses are fitted with a blowing whistle..So much of lightings around the bus body..One day I was traveling in a Bus in highway and I couldn't see the beautiful surroundings due to many artificial flowers hanging through half of the windscreen

BLUE Wednesday, 27 March 2019 09:14 AM

Coming colurs

Charlie brown Wednesday, 27 March 2019 09:22 AM

So let me get this straight...blue buses are safer as they are a pleasing colour ....the crazy man behind the wheel has nothing to do with it .Eyes drawn to the stickers and pictures causes accidents ! ...again what about the fool behind the wheel

Chamesh Perera Wednesday, 27 March 2019 09:27 AM

Well action to private busses ....

RED FOR DANGER Wednesday, 27 March 2019 09:48 AM

RED would be better and paint a sign "D A N G E R"

Sangeeth Peries Wednesday, 27 March 2019 10:27 AM

Busses are parked at bus stands till they get passengers creating traffic inconveniencing the commuters. Checkout locations such as Opposite Buddhist Ladies College, Opposite Colombo Gold Center, Near Bang Bang Building. The busses do not park exactly in the market areas for parking. This is completely ignored by the Traffic Police

Roshanaly Wednesday, 27 March 2019 02:17 PM

First introduce the minimum length for the seats, females passengers are mostly uncomfortable as the seat is too narrow for two.

Ravi Wednesday, 27 March 2019 03:50 PM

How about removing the loud sound equipment therein?

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Private buses in WP should be painted blue after April 1

Comments - 26

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