US-made speed guns worth Rs. 91 Mn for Police to detect high-speed driving

11 January 2025 05:05 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 29 Bookmark

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In a bid to reduce accidents caused by high-speed driving, the Sri Lanka Police have distributed several US-made speed gun devices worth Rs. 91 million to traffic officers.

These devices will help detect drivers exceeding speed limits. In the first phase, the Acting Inspector General of Police handed over 30 speed guns to officers in Negombo, Kelaniya, Gampaha and the Director of the Western Provincial Traffic (South) Division.

Going forward, these devices will be distributed to traffic divisions across the entire island. Police said the Police Traffic Division will also provide training to officers on using the new speed detection technology.

The speed guns, which utilise laser technology, are designed for use in both day and night traffic operations.

In 2024, Sri Lanka reported 24,589 traffic accidents, including 2,242 fatal incidents that resulted in 2,253 deaths. Additionally, 31,182 cases of speeding were recorded, contributing to 731 accidents.

Comments - 29

Traffic consultant Saturday, 11 January 2025 05:48 PM

Very good move to save lives worth more than 91 millions. Good job.

0 37

MOTORIST Saturday, 11 January 2025 07:33 PM

High Speed is generally outside Colombo City Limits...

26 3

BuffaloaCitizen Saturday, 11 January 2025 07:45 PM

Today morning there was several buses continuously plying down Galle road from 4am until 7am not only driving fast at more than 80kmph but also dangerously. Several Traffic Police were seen and some even on motor cycles, but they were not interested and actually busy on their phones. This is yakko country. These Police have been doing Political errands and laundry work and now used to only that. Bringing law and order according to their professional duties is not their culture.

0 38

Yohan Sunday, 12 January 2025 10:28 AM

Have you seen any short distance buses at high speed or making any major accident. Hardly any right. Issue is with long distance buses. Every government neglects the exact cause for accidents. The issue is the time given for these buses, that time priod need to be adjusted so that these guys will not drive like maniacs. It is upto the transport board to make the ammendment.

26 6

Asoka Saturday, 11 January 2025 09:30 PM

Setup a method to pay fines very easily instead of going to several places. 1. Police takes the licence and gives a temporary note. 2. Take that temporary note to police station and obtain the fine sheet 3. Go to the post office to pay the fine 4. Come back to the police station to get the driving licence. If the police office has not registered the driving licence at the police station then you have to come back another day to get the licence. If this happen in another province, then that person has to travel all the way to get the driving licence - an absolute joke. So best way is to pay an illegal fine to the police, thus promoting corruption. This system has to be changed.

2 23

Look for effective but practical solutions Sunday, 12 January 2025 12:03 PM

Fully agree. Although this method was introduced as a deterrent for traffic offences, the level of inconvenience is so high it just encourages corruption as an easy way of overcoming the hassle of going through this process. A better, technology driven solution must be found. The penalties should still be strong enough to act as a deterrent but the means of enforcing the penalty should be more efficient.

0 0

NO TEMPORARY FINE NOTICES, MAY LEAD TO CORRUPTION AT POLICE STATIONS. Sunday, 12 January 2025 02:45 PM

WHY TEMOORARY NOT!!. TAKE THE DRIVERS LICENCE, GIVE HIM A FINE (ORIGINAL) AND HE HAS EX AMT OF TIME TO REPORT TO THE POLICE STATION PAY THE FINE AND GET BACK HE LICENCE OR THE MATTER IS PUT BEFORE THE COURT. CUT AND DRY, SO THE MATTER IS SWIFTLY DEALT WITH. IF THERE IS A OFFICIAL TRAFIC FINES ACCOUNT, COULD PAY IT DIRECT.

1 0

ANURA, CUR OUT YOUR TEMPORARY NOTES, THIS IS NOT A KINDERGARDEN. DRIVERS KNOW THE RULES THEY STICK TO IT OR PAY UP. Sunday, 12 January 2025 02:49 PM

NO TEMPORARY NOTES!!! WHY? IF THE DRIVER IS OVER THE LIMIT HE SHOULD BE GIVEN A SPOT FINE/ORIGINAL AND LICENCE CONFISCATED UNTIL HE PAYS THE FINE OR MATTER GOES TO COURT AFTER THE USUAL TIME FRAME TO PAY THE FINE.

0 0

Chaminda Sunday, 12 January 2025 05:49 PM

The paying of fine should be hard way. Not an easier way. Otherwise drivers will start making mistake if they are in a hurry. Will pay the fine instantly and keep moving. Otherwise a method to high frequency drivers been banned should immediately start which is not in current law.

0 1

ICC Saturday, 11 January 2025 09:36 PM

THE POLICE GET 30-SPEED GUNS, THERE ARE NEARLY 30 DISTRICTS IN SRI LANKA. GIVE EQUAL RIGHTS.

0 24

FredSnR Sunday, 12 January 2025 12:57 AM

More than high speed it is Careless driving, not observing the rules, that is everywhere, overtaking while approaching a hill on the road as an example can be head on collision, poor roads also to blame

0 28

Ram P Sunday, 12 January 2025 02:34 AM

In the past they were misused to threaten drivers and extort bribes. Hope they will be put to proper use this time

0 15

vdot Sunday, 12 January 2025 03:18 AM

Huge expenditure .indeed ..we are moving into the first world of road traffic checking with techno , Why ? Just because , people behind the wheel have not understood the vehicle,they are driving . that an erratic with as driver intoxicated can transform into a lethal weapon, a danger to him and to all with him .more than ever endanger the others on the road .....so a huge drain in the budget unlike in the good old days.ALL to identify the negligence of those who own power driven vehicles with one drink too many .

1 16

sarath fonseka Sunday, 12 January 2025 07:07 AM

Speed guns itself will not stop accidents and fatalities. They have to be used properly and also people who are caught driving over the speed limit should be fined excessively according to the speed they were caught. Bring immediate legislation in parliament to fine them as follows. (1) 5 Miles over the speed limit 5,000 Rupees (2) 10 Miles over the speed limit 25, ooo rupees (3) 15 Miles over the speed limit 100,000 rupees. (4) Over 15 Miles over the speed limit 1 year mandatory jail sentence. This should work if properly implemented and police do not take bribes to release those caught without action. If police are caught taking bribes by bribery department officials they should be dismissed from the Police force without further warnings and also sent to prison for a mandatory 1 year.

2 20

Citizen Sunday, 12 January 2025 04:07 PM

Future Minster of Transport and Public Security.

0 0

Jude Sunday, 12 January 2025 08:22 AM

More money for police officers, yeah More bribes.

16 6

eddy Sunday, 12 January 2025 09:40 AM

Who will be the malima big wig that will be getting the commision?

10 7

Prab Sunday, 12 January 2025 12:40 PM

Nobody talks about price. 3 million for one speed gun. Speed gun costs not more than 500,000.

0 0

Guppi Sunday, 12 January 2025 12:44 PM

Pay attention to buses. Hey, the cops need to wear sunglasses too, so they will be the terminators!

0 0

Mahesh Sunday, 12 January 2025 12:46 PM

First, increase the penalties to make it hurt their wallets!

0 0

Jehan Sause Sunday, 12 January 2025 12:47 PM

Updating speed guns is a good move, Government need to update speed limits and clearly gazette these limits mentioning geography. Otherwise police will mount speed limits as per they wish. Speed limits applicable today are aged, back to morris minor days. Now government need to look at updating them too

0 1

Kirihāmi the Confused Sunday, 12 January 2025 01:30 PM

Do they function as they're supposed to or can the technology and devices be manipulated? Do the courts accept the readings as the final say on speeding? How reliable and trustworthy are the operators? Can their conduct be challenged in a court of law?

2 0

Lanka putha Sunday, 12 January 2025 02:08 PM

This is one of the best

0 0

dinesh Sunday, 12 January 2025 03:54 PM

another effort to make money on the sideline for cops...thats all this will be....buses will get away while...outstation cars will be the prime target...

0 0

Traffic rule fine Sunday, 12 January 2025 05:31 PM

1. Other drivers never get a chance to see an accident shown TV news. Along with commercial advertisements on road sides please show previous accidents. 2. Tell CTB / private bus owners to educate drivers about safety and ask private bus owners not to give huge miney collection targets. 3. Not to allow cleaners to drive without licence. 4. As previously told by someone please make it a point to make a system to reduce the hassle in making payments and collecting licence

0 0

Namal W Sunday, 12 January 2025 05:40 PM

As someone said this country runs on a remote. The Chandrika government, and Rajapakshes government neglected all fields in this country including law and order. Anyway, this project was started by the RW government.

0 1

Citizen Sunday, 12 January 2025 05:44 PM

What about expressways?? When we drive applying speed limit to 100kmph, some vehicles cruise at high speeds. No one catches them.

0 0

FredSnR Monday, 13 January 2025 12:47 AM

Have a Public Education Programme, use TV , phone website. Have signs on roads, public places, so rules are clear.Control issue of driving licences, include scrutiny of issued licences (where necessary).Enforce the rules rigidly, no exceptions, lives at stake .If handled innovatively these actions should not prove a strain on the budget

0 0

Lal.Fernando. Tuesday, 14 January 2025 01:09 AM

Issuing Speed Detector guns is a great Idea. Also these guns should be calibrated according to the specifications. And the evidence of calibrations, ought to be kept , so that it could be provided to courts if required.

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