Police equip stations with advanced US-made speed detection guns

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Sri Lanka Police have distributed US made advanced speed detectors to police stations across the country in a move to enhance road safety and reduce traffic accidents.   
Police said these speed detectors, function using laser technology and can be used for special night time motor traffic operations as well.   
The speed guns can detect vehicles from a distance of up to 1.2 kilometers, capturing essential data such as the speed of the vehicle, the driver’s photograph, and the vehicle’s license plate number.   
Police said the information can be recorded and presented as evidence in court.   
Currently, 35 of these devices have been distributed to the police, with an additional 15 expected to be imported soon.   
Each device costs the government approximately Rs. 3.3 million.   
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manoj Ranagala, Director of Traffic Control and Road Safety said that excessive speed is a major cause of traffic accidents in the country, which result in the deaths of 8 to 10 individuals daily.   
According to the police, over 12,322 people have died in 11,617 fatal road accidents during the period from 2020 to 2024 and a total of 341 persons were killed due to accidents reported since January to February 26 alone.   
Police said a total of 24,589 accidents were reported in the previous year, 2024, and out of those, 2,242 were fatal accidents. The police have implemented the law with regard to 31,182 instances of speeding, and the number of accidents that occurred due to speeding was 731.   
Police said the introduction of these speed guns is a proactive step towards mitigating this issue and ensuring safer roads for all.