It is a much known fact nowadays that the traffic congestion in Colombo has increased to an even that almost all of the personnel operating in Colombo city restrictions get disturbed in their day to day activities. Further it offers come to the light that the traffic injuries in Colombo city area likewise have been increased during the recent times to a significant amount mainly due to this congestion. From the overall variety of traffic incidents reported within the united states the most figures are reported from Colombo city limits. Quantity of lives lost due to these mishaps cannot be considered in light whilst modest scale damages reported stands at large. Unreported amounts of minor scale incidents are not known but would be as double as the number of reported.
Difficulties encountered by the motorists, pedestrians, traffic law enforcement officials and generally the general public in Colombo area because of this traffic congestion are incredibly high. The day to day life of the general public such as going to their office tasks, participating in children to classes, attending other local affairs are receiving disturbed heavily due to the unforeseen delays they can be compelled to see at roads triggered by traffic congestion preventing the even vehicle movements in Colombo city. That is generally wastage of innumerous variety of man-hours of working people, loosing billions of rupees of income to the Gross Country wide Product.
It is a known fact that the highest range of vehicles, comparative to the other locations in Sri Lanka, working in Colombo city. Reason for the same is Colombo is the key city in Sri Lanka to where large number of men and women travel daily to do their jobs, send most variety of children to the large numbers of leading academic institutions located within the town. Further the Colombo harbour can be found within the Colombo city restrictions resulting a large range of vehicle movements for travelling of goods. Most variety of star class tourists hotels found in a single city is Colombo causing large numbers of vehicle movements in between Bandaranayke AIRPORT TERMINAL, Katunayaka and Colombo. Generally the main commecial city of Sri Lanka is Colombo and because of this of that virtually all the staff living at wherever the country are compelled to come quickly to Colombo for some reason which improve the vehicle congestion in Colombo city limitations.
4. When a big variety of vehicles are operating within a limited area in Colombo city, it is apparent that the amount of traffic accidents could be at an increased rate comparative to the amount of accidents occurred in other locations in Sri Lanka. But in this context what's important to be researched is the reasons for those large numbers of accidents. The quantity of vehicle operating in Colombo city would not be a justification for just about any of the citizen of this country to be achieved with a traffic automobile accident also to get injured or to be wiped out. This being the problem time has come to investigate the causes adding to the increase of traffic congestion in Colombo city and produce viable solutions to address this problem which will in turn be beneficial to the future potential clients of Colombo city, as well as the united states as a whole.
CHAPTER 2
METHODOLOGY
AIM
5. The aim of this research paper is to investigate the major causes which contributing to the traffic congestion in Colombo city limits and to come up with feasible measures to create a smooth traffic activity in Colombo city limitations as an example for the rest of the cities in the united states.
STATEMENT FROM THE PROBLEM
6. Increase of traffic congestion within the Colombo city limitations at a drastic rate within an extremely short period of time hasn't only resulted the general public operating in the Colombo city to experience unforeseen problems at highways but also to be ended up at sometime with fatalities or deficits of lives. The continuance in the increase of rate of traffic congestion in Colombo city would become a major burden for the motorists, pedestrians, traffic law enforcement officials and all the communities working in Colombo city and will bring negative impacts to the introduction of Colombo as well as the country unless attended to systematically. This research is to recognize the major causes which have added for the increase of traffic congestion in Colombo city and recommend feasible methods to reduce the same.
THE RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
7. Unlawful generating patterns of the motorists who do not stick to the traffic laws is hypnotized as the key cause for the increase of motor unit traffic congestion in Colombo.
SCOPE WITH THE STUDY
8. The opportunity of the study is to limited to the motorists, pedestrians and traffic authorities officials operating in Colombo city restrictions to identify their views and behaviour into the increased rate of traffic damages in Colombo. The paper also concentrates much on the statistical documents of traffic damages occurred in Colombo in the past decade.
METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
9. The collection of data and information for this research will be highly based on the views and the perceptions of the motorists, pedestrians, representatives of traffic police force department and those who have found with road traffic accidents which is derived through systematical interviews. A questionnaire will be allocated among 50 workers constructed with 25 individuals including heavy vehicle, light vehicle and three wheeler individuals, 10 pedestrians, 10 employees satisfied with traffic accidents and 5 traffic cops. Further this research evaluation will be highly predicated on past statistics on all traffic incidents in Colombo.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS
10. The thesis is organised the following:
Chapter 1 - Launch.
Chapter 2 - Methodology.
Chapter 3 - Increase of vehicle human population in Sri Lanka.
Chapter 4 - Reasons contributing to the traffic congestion in
Colombo.
Chapter 5 - Observations created by the Researcher.
Chapter 6 - Examination of data.
Chapter 7 - Recommendations.
Chapter 8 - Bottom line.
CHAPTER 3
INCRESE OF VEHICLE Inhabitants IN SRI LANKA
11. It is a known fact that the vehicle people of Sri Lanka was very nominal before 1980s and ponder whether a expression called traffic congestion was been told at that time. However with the influx of the principles of open economy to the country, the vehicle people was increased but at a average rate during 80s and 90s. So the highway network in the united states, though not developed much, was sufficient to support the transport in the united states without traffic congestion. But within the last decade the automobile population of the country was widened at a drastic rate and almost doubled within an interval of eight years. The following statistics at Stand 3. 1 provides clear picture of the automobile population of the united states and the structure of the same.
12. Stand 3. 2 shows the rate of increasing of vehicles in the united states with the new registrations per yr. From yr 2002 onwards the new registrations per 12 months exceeds 200, 000. In this particular context what we must identify is if the highway network has been expanded comparatively to support this quantity of vehicles.
13. When it comes to Colombo city, it has been revealed that about 400, 000 vehicles move in and out of Colombo daily basis, which is around 15% of the full total vehicle population of the united states. Though the road network of the main city of the country has been extensively extended as well, the traffic congestion anticipated to different contributing factors could not have been prevented. It has been emerged that following are the primary contributing factors for the traffic congestion in Colombo city and its own suburbs.
High level of vehicle activities within the city.
Not having a proper traffic plan in the town.
Closure of certain roads for security reasons.
Bad driving habits of individuals violating traffic guidelines.
Improper parking patterns of drivers interrupting simple vehicle movements anticipated to non availableness sufficient parking facilities.
Poor traffic controlling obligations of traffic law enforcement officials.
Use of old vehicles not road worthwhile.
Increase of vehicle accidents due to high volume of vehicle movements obstructing the soft vehicle moves.
CHAPTER 4
REASONS CONTRIBUTING TO THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN COLOMBO
14. Colombo City is the most filled city in Sri Lanka and the living specifications of the people residing in Colombo is relatively high resulting a considerable number of individuals out of these surviving in Colombo now take over a kind of personal vehicles. Further a wide array of people steps in and from the Colombo city daily basis making the amount of vehicles relocating and out on daily basis is high. As per the statistics offered by Traffic Branch of the authorities Department, about 400, 000 vehicles of different categories move around in Colombo city daily.
15. Due to this large numbers of vehicles moving in and out of the Colombo city the common number of injuries reported within the Colombo city is 200 out of which 6 are fatal. It is important with an idea of the overall perception on the contributing factors for the traffic congestion in Colombo city.
GENERAL Open public PERCEPTION
16. Predicated on the outcome of the ideas obtained from a cross section of motorists and non-drivers working in Colombo city via a distribution of any questionnaire fastened as Annex "A", the following factors were exposed out which some are discovered as the contributing factors for the traffic congestion in Colombo city.
Chart 4. 1 - Ownership of valid traveling license
17. It had been revealed by way of a circulation of questionnaires among 50 personnel driving different kinds of vehicles in Colombo city area only 80% are with valid driving a vehicle certificate whilst others drive different categories of vehicles without traveling or riding certificate as elaborated in Graph 4. 1.
Chart 4. 2 - Knowledge on Traffic Rules
18. Ratio of the staff who are driving a car vehicles and having an average knowledge on traffic rules and regulations is 60% whilst both categories of those with very good knowledge and poor stands at 20% each as shown in Graph 4. 2.
Chart 4. 3 - Adherence of Traffic Rules
19. Adherence to traffic rules plays a significant role in the context of traffic congestion of any where on the road so do at the Colombo city area and the composition of the same in regards to to Colombo city area is really as per above Chart 4. 3. As per the statistical data received in this regard only 5% of the staff drive vehicles in Colombo city adhering 100% to the traffic regulations. 70% adhere traffic rules but sometimes violating. 20% adhere traffic rules only when they feel it is required to achieve this whilst 5% adhere only when traffic police are anticipated or to be seen on the highway.
Chart 4. 4 - Percentage of Drivers attained with Injuries whilst driving in Colombo
The Chart 4. 4 shows how exceptional we will get a person driving a car a kind of vehicle but not have attained with an accident whist travelling in Colombo. 80% of the drivers have fulfilled with some kind of traffic incident whilst driving a car in Colombo. It is important to identify the main reasons for those crashes and Chart 4. 5 elaborates the same. 30% have attained with accidents because of the fact they have not sticking with the traffic rules, at the time of meeting the crash whilst 50% have fulfilled with the injuries consequently of the violation of traffic rules by the another party. 15% have met with accident due to the congestion of traffic in Colombo, whilst only 5% due to another reasons.
Chart 4. 5 - Known reasons for the Accidents in Colombo City
21. It really is an acknowledged fact that use of mobile phones by the individuals whilst traveling is one of the major reasons adding for the traffic incidents so do for the traffic congestion in Colombo city. The research uncovers as highlighted at Chart 4. 6 that 80% employees uses cell phones whilst driving. It had been also discovered that 10 % don't uses mobile phones whilst generating and the total amount 10% uses cell phones however after parking the automobile by side of the street.
Chart 4. 6 - Using CELL PHONES Whilst Driving
22. Parking vehicles at unauthorized places by side of the highways raise the traffic congestion in Colombo city very much. Reason for that type of illegal car parking varies from individual to individual and the Graph 4. 7 shows the percentage of motorists doing illegal auto parking whilst Graph 4. 8 shows the explanation for them to take action.
Chart 4. 7 - Trend of Illegal Vehicle Parking
Chart 4. 8 - Tendency of Illegal Vehicle Parking
23. Travelling vehicles in accordance to the stipulated speed boundaries is also an undeniable fact necessary to be adhered to in order to minimize the disruption to the other vehicles and the commuters as well. The research reveals that, almost all the motorists are operating in Colombo violate the rate boundaries even in sometimes.
Chart 4. 9 - Adhere to speed limits
24. The overall perception of these who are generating a kind of vehicle in Colombo city, towards the reason why for the traffic congestion in Colombo city is emphasized in The Chart 4. 10 Although traffic congestion in Colombo city is a result of combination of different factors, the most contributing factor was determined as the unlawful traveling habits of the individuals which stands at 60%. The next main factor which stands at 20% is the huge number of vehicles going into in to Colombo city.
Chart 4. 10 - Reasons for traffic congestion
TRAFFIC POLICE Officers PERCEPTION
25. Traffic Authorities officials executing traffic duties are one of the main resource employees from whom an impartial opinion towards the traffic congestion in Colombo city, could be obtained. A specifically made questionnaire as at Annex "B" was allocated among 25 traffic law enforcement officials officials and the results of the same is really as follows.
26. The very first question was to find if they see or experience a traffic congestion in Colombo city that the response was 100% positive and everything the police officials accept the excessive traffic congestion in Colombo.
27. The traffic police force representatives being the most qualified personnel using their observations and experience to list out the factors adding the traffic congestion in Colombo city were tasked to list out those factors in line with the precedence and the results is as enumerated at Chart 5. 11 Majority of them are in the view of this the bad travelling habits of the motorists violating the traffic regulations, come first cause for the present day traffic congestion in Colombo city
.
Chart 5. 11 - Known reasons for Traffic Congestion as per the precedence
28. The order of precedence described above at Paragraph 27 was further substantiated based on the factual details of the traffic police force officers as shown below at Chart 5. 12 The number of personnel getting captured to police world wide web daily for violating traffic rules in Colombo city stands above all the other offenders. Those who find themselves driving vehicles over speeding, though taken as another feature, is again an unlawful driving behavior violating the traffic guidelines. So that the percentage of these who are travelling with unlawful travelling behaviors and getting trapped to authorities is 60%.
Chart 5. 12 - Known reasons for Traffic Congestion according to the precedence
29. Views of the traffic authorities representatives were expected to learn the most viable treatment for the traffic congestion in Colombo city. Though different viewpoints were found as shown at Graph 5. 13, the most feasible solutions that 55% agreed to address this problem was to take stern disciplinary action against those offenders who violate the traffic rules and regulations.
Chart 5. 13 - Known reasons for Traffic Congestion according to the precedence
CHAPTER 5
OBSERVATIONS CREATED BY THE RESEARCHER
30. Further to the reality obtained through the syndication of questionnaires among public, those who find themselves driving a vehicle vehicles in Colombo city areas, and the traffic law enforcement officials performing duties in Colombo area, the following facts were disclosed through aesthetic observations and sporadic interviews of the people hanging out in Colombo area. We were holding included with bus drivers, three wheel individuals, cops, pedestrians; personnel using public transfer etc. and the following observations were made.
a. It had been observed that the utmost quantity of vehicles move in Colombo city area during the following rush time.
0730 hrs to 0900 hrs - During this period the maximum amounts of vehicles moves in Colombo city making a traffic congestion and the reason is the influx of individuals to Colombo for employments, businesses, also to attend classes etc
1330 hrs to 1430 hrs - It is now time period during when institutions are getting sealed and a large number of vehicles move around in the Colombo city for school services. Due to the fact that a significant volume of leading universities are positioned in Colombo city itself, the number of light vehicles functioning for institution services is extremely high ensuing the traffic congestion.
1630 hrs to 1830 hrs - Immediately after the office hours the outward vehicle activities from the Colombo city are incredibly high like the morning session building a traffic congestion.
b. The competition of the bus motorists makes havocs in the clean circulation of vehicle moves in Colombo city. Though the buses as well as the other heavy vehicles are to operate a vehicle in the leftmost lane it has been practiced limited to preventing the busses at bus halts to panel or alight the travellers. Virtually all the bus individuals make their fullest effort to disturb the other buses to make a huge catch of travellers which disturb all the vehicles on the roads creating traffic congestions. However not a single bus drivers is ready to accept they are experimenting unlawful operating patterns violating the traffic guidelines.
c. Habitual violation of traffic rules by the three wheel drivers are one of the main contributing factors for the traffic congestion in Colombo city. The amount of three wheelers in Colombo city is incredibly high. Easy maneuverability of three wheelers has been used by most of the drivers to get a supplementary advantage of attaining their destinations as quickly as possible however violating all the types of traffic guidelines. They don't bother about the down sides encountered by the other motorists and individuals because of the unethical driving habits ultimately creating unnecessary traffic congestions.
d. Parking vehicles by sides of the roads blocking the other free vehicle movement is also a adding factor for the traffic congestion in Colombo city. Sometimes may be due to the non option of parking facilities, individuals are being used to park the vehicles by side of the streets disturbing the other vehicles.
e. Role of the pedestrians too contributes much for the traffic congestion in Colombo city. The extremely poor road discipline of the pedestrians creates needless disturbance to the even movement of vehicles. Even at the places where over head or underground pedestrian crossings is there, almost all of the pedestrians do not and unwilling to make use of those facilities but used to cross the road at the shortest way which ends up not only with traffic congestions but also accidents with fatalities.
f. Less attention of most of the motorists for the disruptions for the other vehicles due to the way to operate a vehicle also contributes for the traffic congestion in Colombo city. The traditional example in this framework is the use of cell phones whilst driving creating unnecessary disturbance for the other vehicles whilst not being aware of it.
CHAPTER 6
ANALYSIS OF DATA
31. When the data collected through the systematical interviews, visible observations and circulation of questionnaires were analyzed, it was proven that the following contributory factors have resulted that the traffic congestion in Colombo city and suburbs.
High level of vehicle movements within the town.
Not having an effective traffic plan in the town.
Closure of certain streets for security reasons.
Bad driving practices of drivers violating traffic rules.
Improper parking patterns of individuals interrupting even vehicle movements due to non option of sufficient parking facilities.
Poor traffic managing duties of traffic law enforcement officials.
Use of old vehicles not road worthwhile.
Increase of vehicle accidents credited to high volume of vehicle movements obstructing the clean vehicle motions.
Bad road self-discipline of pedestrians.
32. The high level of vehicles of around 400, 000 are operating in Colombo city daily is undoubtedly is one of the primary reasons for the traffic congestion in Colombo city. Amount of injuries, as mach as 200 per day consolidates this fact further. But the quantity of vehicles exclusively wouldn't have created this much of traffic congestion in Colombo city unless the other contributing factors have popped up therefore of the high volume of the vehicles. All the efforts have been taken up to reduce the results induced by the other factors such as lowering the violation of traffic guidelines, unauthorized auto parking etc. Since those factors play a significant role than the quantity of the vehicles.
33. As enumerated and hypothesized throughout the research, the unlawful driving a vehicle habits of most the drivers working in Colombo city are examined as the primary contributing factor for the traffic congestion in Colombo city. When the amount of vehicles are high and certain motorists are in a hurry have a tendency to violate traffic regulations also to reach their locations as soon as possible ultimately creating traffic jams and blocks at the streets. The competition and the habitually unlawful driving a vehicle techniques of the bus drivers and three wheel drivers contributes this aspect most importantly. This research hypothesis is further consolidated by the statistical details obtained through the distribution of questionnaire with a percentage of 60% of public and traffic police officials in the view that the unlawful driving a vehicle habits of the drivers triggers traffic congestion in Colombo.
34. Though there are regulations to bring the offenders at the highways before the courts and be tried, it isn't being practice to a reasonable level. Although traffic police officials reiterated that the traffic congestion in Colombo city is mainly due to the unlawful driving habits of the motorists, the actions they have taken to address this issue is not visible. The avenues available for the offenders to get themselves free from the traffic violations even after getting captured to traffic authorities officials are in a huge but undisclosed by both get-togethers.
CHAPTER 7
RECOMMENDATION
35. Predicated on the factual details obtained through systematical means and the research research, it is obvious that the actual fact of unlawful driving a vehicle patterns of the motorists is usually to be addressed timely to reduce the traffic congestion in Colombo city and its suburbs at first whilst addressing all of those other contributing factors gradually. The following activities are advised to be initiated in this interconnection.
a. Traffic laws and regulations, regulations are to be revised and be offered with stern disciplinary action contrary to the violation of traffic guidelines.
b. The traffic police force officials as the law enforcing power should be trained and handled in a more discipline way than as at the moment to be firm when doing their responsibilities. Internal monitoring systems within the traffic police force department should be proven and stern disciplinary action to be studied against those corrupted law enforcement officials not undertaking their tasks properly.
c. A value to be put into the driving certificate from enough time of issuing which is to be made certain that only the skilled and disciplined job seekers are issued with driving permit. In case of any kind of intentional violation of traffic guideline the relevant diving license holder is usually to be kept under supervision for a typical time period preferably one year and when found again for intentional violation the travelling license is to be terminated. So that, no body will take the risk of getting their driving license terminated.
d. Parking facilities in the Colombo district to be broadened and then those who find themselves parking vehicles at unauthorized places to be dealt consequently.
e. Specific regulations for the maintenance of self-discipline of bus individuals and three wheel motorists should be brought in to drive.
f. CCTV monitoring systems to be installed within the Colombo city to track the individuals violating traffic guidelines and the police officials not carrying out their duties properly.
g. Island extensive educational programs to be conducted to bring a behavioral change of the people driving any kind of vehicle in Sri Lanka to be disciplined at the roads and to respect the others.
h. Quality of the general public transport services are to be increased to motivate the visitors to use public transportation than their private vehicles when to arrive to Colombo city that may reduce the influx of light vehicles that contributes much for the traffic congestion in the town.
i. Informing motorist about street accidents, traffic congestion and street conditions by traffic radio stop which will help motorists to avoid traffic congestion. Helicopters can be use to moniter traffic.
CHAPTER 8
CONCLUSION
36. It really is an acknowledged fact that the down sides faced by everyone, the traffic police force officials and the wastage of national resources due to the traffic congestion in Colombo city is utmost and unaccountable. Which means this is a countrywide issue necessary to be dealt with within minimal possible delay without being waiting till the challenge get aggravated. As hypothesized the key fact behind the traffic congestion in Colombo city and also in suburbs is the unlawful travelling habits of the vehicle users whilst few other factors contribute to boost the problem. As determined and analyzed through the research it's important to address the key factor which is unlawful driving a vehicle practices of the motorists as step one whilst addressing the others thereafter.
37. The results of this endeavor to decrease the traffic congestion in Colombo city limits and its suburbs will be a good example to handle the similar type of traffic congestions in other main locations in Sri Lanka as well. These kinds of problems can't be addressed without the support of the general public as well as the representatives who are tasked to perform duties due to that. However with the enforcement of new law and systematical programs to help make the traveling community more disciplined the traffic congestion of the Colombo would be steadily reduced which is good for all folks moving into this country since this is a challenge pertaining to the key business and industrial city of Sri Lanka.
