July 20, Colombo (LNW): A nationwide programme to inspect the roadworthiness of public transport vehicles is set to begin later this year, as authorities move to strengthen road safety standards and reduce the number of accidents involving buses and other passenger vehicles.
Chairman of the National Council for Road Safety, Manjula Kularatne, said the inspection initiative is expected to get underway by the end of September and will cover all vehicles operating in the public transport sector.
He explained that investigations into road crashes have consistently identified driver error and mechanical faults as the two leading factors behind many accidents involving public transport vehicles. In response, the authorities have decided to introduce a comprehensive vehicle inspection scheme aimed at identifying safety issues before they lead to serious incidents.
The programme will include mandatory assessments of buses and other public service vehicles to ensure they meet the required technical and safety standards before continuing to operate on the country’s roads.
Kularatne said applications have already been invited to recruit qualified technical officers who will be responsible for carrying out the inspections. Once the recruitment process is completed and the officers are deployed, inspections are expected to commence across the island towards the end of September.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve passenger safety, enhance vehicle maintenance standards and minimise the risk of preventable road accidents involving public transport services.