Govt. to declare Nov. 21 as national road safety week every year

Cabinet approval granted to declare a national week on road safety with effect from November 21, 2021, and continue to observe this period in November every year beginning from this year, Co-Cabinet spokesman Udaya Gammanpila said.

Addressing the weekly cabinet briefing, he said the declaration of road safety week to draw the special attention of the society in order to minimize road accidents.

"A total number of 2,023 fatal accidents were witnessed last year, in which 2,114 people had died. Motorcycles have contributed to 963 such fatalities and 987 deaths had been reported. Yearly, around 500 deaths were caused by three-wheelers and lorries," the Minister said.

He also said that approximately 8 to10 lives are lost in a day due to these concurrent road disasters and most of the victims were males. 

As a result of these accidents, their dependents become helpless and there is an increasing trend every year.

Therefore, considering the above facts, the National Council on Road Safety has paid its attention to implementing a road safety week on November 21 each year, the Minister added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)