A serious trend of increasing road accidents in the country with the start of the year 2026.

The Traffic Police and the Department of Motor Traffic, who held a press conference today, stated that although the number of fatal road accidents in the country decreased by 180 and the number of deaths by 211 in 2025 compared to 2024, a serious upward trend in road accidents has been observed in the country with the beginning of 2026. In the short period from January 1st to 12th, 2026 alone, 68 fatal road accidents were reported, resulting in 73 deaths.

Police data reports that 16 people died due to road accidents that occurred on the 12th alone.

Studies of fatal accidents in the Mundalama and Kilinochchi areas reveal that driver fatigue and falling asleep are major causes of this increase in sudden accidents. In Mundalama, a mother, son, and a female relative from the same family died in an accident caused by the driver of an Alto car falling asleep after starting their journey around 4:00 AM. The police point out that such fatalities could have been avoided if the driver had pulled the vehicle off the road and rested for about half an hour when feeling tired or uncomfortable. For long journeys, a good sleep of at least 6-8 hours is essential, and taking a break every four and a half hours is crucial.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is another major factor contributing to the prevalence of accidents. Recently, over 7000 cases related to drunk drivers and nearly 250 cases related to illicit drugs have been reported. The Police and the National Medical Institute have jointly launched special operations using new technological kits and mobile applications to test for drugs. Incidents such as a pedestrian being hit by a driver under the influence of heroin in Narahenpita and a severely drug-addicted person damaging vehicles in Welikada clearly demonstrate the dangers of drug use.

Approximately 5.1 million of the total vehicles in the country are motorcycles, and their probability of being involved in accidents is very high. Many motorcycle accidents are caused by wearing substandard safety helmets and not properly fastening their chin straps. In accidents that occurred in the Kurunegala and Eheliyagoda areas, fatal injuries resulted from helmets coming off, and there are also tragic instances where children died because parents, despite wearing safety helmets themselves, carried young children without protection. Incidents of motorcyclists colliding with tipper trucks and dying due to excessive speed and reckless overtaking were also frequently observed in recent days.

Pedestrian negligence also contributes significantly to road accidents, with data showing that 31% of those who died in fatal road accidents last year were pedestrians. Pedestrians are involved in accidents due to bad habits such as crossing the road while using mobile phones, crossing at unauthorized locations despite the presence of pedestrian crossings, and suddenly stepping onto the road from behind vehicles. The police have the authority to take legal action against individuals who do not use a pedestrian crossing when one is available within 50 meters.

Mechanical defects in vehicles and drivers' bad habits are another aspect contributing to accidents. Especially when driving in hilly areas, excessive use of brakes can cause the braking system to overheat and malfunction, leading to serious bus accidents in areas like Ella - Wellawaya. Furthermore, placing water bottles or slippers under the driver's seat can cause them to get stuck under the brake pedal, preventing the brakes from being applied, which can also lead to accidents. Therefore, it is a driver's mandatory responsibility to check basic things like the vehicle's brakes, tires, lights, and engine oil before starting a journey.

Road rules and driver discipline are very important to minimize such accidents. Good habits such as avoiding mobile phone use while driving, refraining from eating, and keeping both hands on the steering wheel should be followed. The police strictly enforce laws regarding drunk driving, drug use, and road rule violations, and authorities emphasize that cultivating self-discipline and a change in attitude among drivers is the main way to prevent road accidents.