Installing road speed cameras will be a win-win solution

SRI Lanka is grappling with an unacceptably high number of road traffic accidents, costing the country nearly 4% of GDP and resulting in a tragic loss of life— over 3,000 deaths annually —and over 7,000 serious injuries that often lead to permanent disability.

- By Chula Goonasekera

Against this backdrop, it is timely for the Government to conduct feasibility studies on installing road speed cameras to penalise vehicles that exceed speed limits.To ensure fairness and transparency, all roads equipped with speed cameras must be clearly marked at intervals of at least 0.25 km, indicating the applicable speed limit for each section. Signage need not be elaborate or costly; it can be placed on lamp posts, painted on the road surface, or displayed using other low-cost methods.

As these systems are camera-operated, fines should be imposed on the registered vehicle owner— identified by vehicle number—rather than the driver. This approach encourages owners to ensure that anyone driving their vehicle meets appropriate standards of competence and safety.

Speed violations should be communicated by post to the vehicle owner, with a reduced penalty—say Rs. 5,000—if paid within 14 days; thereafter, the fine should double. An independent appeals process is essential, as camera systems are not infallible. In addition, cameras should be programmed with a tolerance margin, such as 10%, to account for technical variation. For example, if the speed limit is 70 km/h, enforcement should begin only when a vehicle exceeds 77 km/h. This tolerance would minimise unnecessary technical disputes and reduce the burden on the courts.