ROAD SAFETY COUNTRY PROFILE

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Sri Lanka

South Asia

Sri Lanka's Road Safety Country Profile

This road safety country data presents information on all pillars of road safety (management, roads, speed, vehicles, road users, and post-crash care), along with information on the current status for each country and region – with extensive information on key risk factors, issues and opportunities.

THE SCALE OF THE ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGE Ref: 1,2,3,4,5

  • 63%

    Percentage of Road Crash Fatalities and Injuries in the economically productive age groups (15 - 64 years.)

  • 3:1

    Ratio of Male to Female Fatalities with the 15 - 49 year age group being most vulnerable to fatalities.

  • 598 life yrs.

    affected due to disability from road crash injuries per 100,000 people.

  • Road crash fatalities and injuries snapshot
    Country Population, 2016: 20,798,492
    Country Reported Fatalities, 2016: 3,003
    WHO Estimated Fatalities, 2016: 3,096
    GBD Estimated Fatalities, 2016: 2,811
    WHO Est. Fatalities per 100,000 Pop., 2016: 14.9
    Estimated Serious Injuries, 2016: 46,440
    Cost of Fatalities and Serious Injuries, 2016: $4,001 million
    Cost as % of country GDP, 2016: 4.9%
Positioning of Country in Region (Compared to Countries with the Lowest Traffic Fatalities in the Region and Globally)
2016 WHO Estimated Road Fatalities 2016 GBD Estimated Road Fatalities 2016 WHO Estimated Fatality Rate/100,000 pop. 2016 GBD Estimated Fatality Rate/ 100,000 pop. % Trend in Fatality Rate/100,000 (2013-2016) Motorization Registered Vehicles/100,000 pop.
Sri Lanka 3,096 2,811 14.9 13.09 -4.8% 32,673
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
Maldives 4 32 0.9 7.25 -4% 21,737
Pakistan 27,582 52,708 14.3 25.16 -3.1% 9,499
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 223 334 2.65 3.89 -5.4% 71,182
Norway 143 215 2.72 4.09 2.4% 75,544
Singapore 155 197 2.76 3.53 -4.9% 16,604
Sweden 278 390 2.83 3.88 -3.2% 62,037
2016 WHO Estimated Road Fatalities
Sri Lanka 3,096
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
Maldives 4
Pakistan 27,582
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 223
Norway 143
Singapore 155
Sweden 278
2016 GBD Estimated Road Fatalities
Sri Lanka 2,811
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
Maldives 32
Pakistan 52,708
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 334
Norway 215
Singapore 197
Sweden 390
2016 WHO Estimated Fatality Rate/100,000 pop.
Sri Lanka 14.9
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
Maldives 0.9
Pakistan 14.3
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 2.65
Norway 2.72
Singapore 2.76
Sweden 2.83
2016 GBD Estimated Road Fatalities
Sri Lanka 13.09
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
Maldives 7.25
Pakistan 25.16
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 3.89
Norway 4.09
Singapore 3.53
Sweden 3.88
2016 GBD Estimated Road Fatalities
Sri Lanka -4.8%
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
Maldives -4%
Pakistan -3.1%
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland -5.4%
Norway 2.4%
Singapore -4.9%
Sweden -3.2%
2016 GBD Estimated Road Fatalities
Sri Lanka 32,673
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
Maldives 21,737
Pakistan 9,499
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 71,182
Norway 75,544
Singapore 16,604
Sweden 62,037
Ⅰ. ROAD SAFETY MANAGEMENT Ref: 1
To produce positive road safety outcomes, strong management in all aspects of road safety is key. Presence of a funded lead agency to guide the national road safety effort and implement a Safe Systems approach is recommended.
Sri Lanka has a lead agency present, National Council for Road Safety (NCRS), Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, which isn't funded in the national budget but has a road safety strategy which is partially funded. The functions of the agency include coordination, legislation and monitoring and evaluation of road safety strategies. The country has both a fatal and non-fatal road safety target, to reduce fatalities by 50% with a timeline of 2011 - 2020.
Ⅱ. SAFE ROADS AND ROADSIDES Ref: 1,4
Business Case for Safer Roads
Infrastructure and Speed Management Investment required: $2.23 billion
Annual Investment as a % of GDP (2019-2030): 0.21%
Reduction in fatalities per year: 1,476
Approximate reduction in fatalities and serious injuries (FSI) over 20 years: 320,000
Economic Benefit: $19.91 billion
B/C Ratio: 9
Ⅲ. SAFE SPEEDS Ref: 1,6,7,8
  • Maximum Speed Limits and Enforcement
    National Speed Limit
    Speed Enforcement Manual
    National Speed Limit
    Speed Enforcement Manual
URBAN ROADS RURAL ROADS MOTORWAYS
Current Speed Limit 50 km/h 70 km/h 100 km/h
Difference with Recomended Safe System Speed +20 km/h Appropriate +10 km/h
Potential Decrease in Fatal Road Crashes from Enforcement of Safe System Speed Limits 4 times lower Low Risk 1 times lower
URBAN ROADS
Current Speed Limit 50 km/h
Difference with Recomended Safe System Speed +20 km/h
Potential Decrease in Fatal Road Crashes from Enforcement of Safe System Speed Limits 4 times lower
RURAL ROADS
Current Speed Limit 70 km/h
Difference with Recomended Safe System Speed Appropriate
Potential Decrease in Fatal Road Crashes from Enforcement of Safe System Speed Limits Low Risk
MOTORWAYS
Current Speed Limit 100 km/h
Difference with Recomended Safe System Speed +10 km/h
Potential Decrease in Fatal Road Crashes from Enforcement of Safe System Speed Limits 1 times lower
Major Speed Calming Measures Being Implemented
Narrowing Horizontal Deflections
Include lane narrowings by extending sidewalks, curb extensions, pedestrian refuges etc. Used to make vehicles swerve slightly, include chicanes, pedesrian refuges, chokers etc.
Vertical Deflections Block or Restrict Access
Include speed bumps, humps, cushions, tables, raised pedestrian crossing, variation in ride surface etc. Include median diverters, closing streets to create pedestrian zones,cul-de-sacs etc.
Narrowing
Include lane narrowings by extending sidewalks, curb extensions, pedestrian refuges etc.
Horizontal Deflections
Used to make vehicles swerve slightly, include chicanes, pedesrian refuges, chokers etc.
Vertical Deflections
Include speed bumps, humps, cushions, tables, raised pedestrian crossing, variation in ride surface etc.
Block or Restrict Access
Include median diverters, closing streets to create pedestrian zones,cul-de-sacs etc.
Ⅳ. SAFE VEHICLES Ref: 1,8

  • 6,795,469

    total registered vehicles as of 2016

  • 71%

    motorized 2/3 wheelers as of 2016

Country Compliance to the UN Vehicle Safety Regulations
Frontal and Side Impact (Reg. 94, 95) No Restrictions Regulation of Import of Used Vehicles
Motorcycle Anti-Lock Braking System (Reg. 78) No Import Age Limit
Pedestrian Protection (Reg. 127) No Taxation Based Limits
Electronic Stability Control (Reg. 140) Yes Import Inspections
Seat Belts and Anchorages (Reg. 16, 14) No Periodic Inspection
Frontal and Side Impact (Reg. 94, 95)
Motorcycle Anti-Lock Braking System (Reg. 78)
Pedestrian Protection (Reg. 127)
Electronic Stability Control (Reg. 140)
Seat Belts and Anchorages (Reg. 16, 14)
No Restrictions Regulation of Import of Used Vehicles
No Import Age Limit
No Taxation Based Limits
Yes Import Inspections
No Periodic Inspection
Ⅴ. SAFE ROAD USERS Ref: 1,8
National Seatbelt, Drink Driving and Helmet Laws (WHO, 2016)
National Seatbelt Law Motorcycle Occupant Age Restriction: Not restricted
Driver Legal Minimum Driving Age: 17 yrs.
Front National Drink Driving Law
Back Is Law BAC Based?
Motorcycle Helmet Law Random Drink Driving Tests
Helmet Standards % of Road Crach Fatalities Involving Alcohol: Unknown
National Seatbelt Law
Driver
Front
Back
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Helmet Standards
Motorcycle Occupant Age Restriction: Not restricted
Legal Minimum Driving Age: 17 yrs.
National Drink Driving Law
Is Law BAC Based?
Random Drink Driving Tests
% of Road Crach Fatalities Involving Alcohol: Unknown
  • Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limits (g/dl)
    General Population <0.08
    Young Drivers <0.08
    Professional Drivers <0.08
    General Population <0.08
    Young Drivers <0.08
    Professional Drivers <0.08
Ⅵ. POST CRASH CARE Ref: 1,8,9

  • Good post-crash care reduces deaths and reduces disability and suffering for road crash survivors. The emergency medical care system elements and processes need to be effective to attain this objective.

  • National Emergency Care Access Number: Partial Coverage
    Traume Registry System: Some Facilities
    Country Health Coverage Index - SDG Target 3.8; Target - 100: 62
    Expenditure on Healthcare as % of GDP: 4%
REFERENCES
  1. Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018. World Health Organization;
  2. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Results Tool. Seattle, WA: IHME, University of Washington, 2015;
  3. Serious injuries have been calculated assuming a ratio of 15:1 (15 serious injuries for every death). This estimation broadly falls in the range of 30:1 in high income countries to 10:1 in low- and middle-income countries as crashes tend to be more fatal in the later context.
  4. Vaccines for Roads, International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP). Available from https://www.vaccinesforroads.org/;
  5. World Bank Databank for Development Indicators;
  6. M.H. Cameron, R. Elvik. 2010. Nilsson's Power Model connecting speed and road trauma;
  7. Austroads. Balance between harm reduction and mobility in setting speed limits;
  8. UNEP-ITC Background Paper on Used Vehicles Globally and Various Media Sources (Wikipedia and vehicle import websites);
  9. 2018 World Health Statistics, WHO.

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