A tired driver is a dangerous driver

Many bus drivers work extremely long hours with very little rest

In Sri Lanka today, getting onto a public bus is no longer a simple or routine part of life. For many, it has quietly become something they do with hesitation. There is always that small, unspoken fear in the back of the mind. Will I reach home safely?

For decades, we have spoken about reforming our public transport system. Every government has, at some point, acknowledged the problems and promised change. Yet, despite these repeated assurances, the condition of our bus service remains largely unchanged. It continues to be unsafe, unreliable and, for many, deeply worrying.

Public buses are the backbone of daily travel in this country. They carry millions of Sri Lankans every day. Schoolchildren rely on them to get to class. Workers depend on them to earn a living. Elderly passengers and families use them because they are often the only affordable option. In many parts of the country, there is simply no alternative. And yet, the very system that so many depend on has become one that people do not fully trust.

We have seen too many tragedies to ignore this reality. The bus accident in Kotmale in 2005, where more than 30 lives were lost, remains one of the most painful reminders of what can go wrong. Years later, the Passara bus tragedy in 2018 once again shook the nation when over 20 passengers died after a bus plunged down a precipice. Even more recently, accidents in areas such as Nuwara Eliya and Hatton continue to take lives and leave families devastated. These are not isolated incidents. 

In many of these cases, the causes are not difficult to understand. One of the biggest concerns is driver fatigue. Many bus drivers work extremely long hours with very little rest. Some begin their day before sunrise and continue late into the night. This kind of schedule is not just demanding, it is dangerous. A driver who is tired cannot react quickly. He cannot make safe decisions in critical moments. Yet, this is the reality for a large number of drivers on our roads.

There are also ongoing concerns about alcohol and drug use among some drivers. It may not apply to all, but even a few cases are enough to put many lives at risk. Passengers have no way of knowing the condition of the person behind the wheel. They simply have to trust the system, even when that trust has been broken time and time again.

Reckless driving has also become a normal sight. Buses speeding, overtaking dangerously and competing with each other for passengers can be seen on almost every major road. What is most worrying is that this behaviour no longer shocks people. It has become something we expect rather than question.

After every major accident, there is public anger and grief. There are investigations, statements and promises of stricter action. For a short time, there is attention and urgency. But as the days pass, that urgency fades. The system slowly returns to what it was before. This cycle has repeated itself for far too long.

The truth is that we already know what the problems are. Drivers need better working conditions. They need proper rest, regulated hours and fair wages. No one should be expected to carry dozens of lives while being exhausted. Training must also improve. It should not be limited to the point of obtaining a licence. There must be continuous training that focuses not only on driving skills but also on responsibility and safety.

At the same time, enforcement of the law must be stronger. Reckless driving should not be treated as a minor offence. When lives are at risk, there must be serious consequences. Regular checks for alcohol and drug use should be part of the system, not something that happens only after a tragedy.

Bus owners and operators also have a role to play. A system that pushes drivers to make more trips at the cost of their well being is a system that creates danger. Profit cannot come before human life. This issue goes beyond transport. It is about safety, responsibility and the value we place on human lives. Every passenger who steps onto a bus places their trust in a system that should protect them. Today, that trust is uncertain.

Public buses should be safe, reliable and respected. They should not be something people fear. No parent should worry when their child takes a bus to school. No worker should feel that their daily commute is a risk.

The question we must ask ourselves is simple. How many more lives must be lost before we take this seriously? Until there is real and lasting change, every bus journey in Sri Lanka will continue to carry a sense of risk. And that is something no society should accept.