Police have issued new instructions requiring traffic officers to produce motorists accused of reckless and dangerous driving directly before the courts instead of issuing on-the-spot fines.
The new directive was announced by Traffic Control and Road Safety Division Director W.P.J. Senadheera, who said the measure has been introduced in response to the alarming increase in fatal road accidents across the country.
According to police statistics, 1,292 fatal road accidents were reported islandwide between January 1 and June 26, 2026, claiming the lives of 1,357 people.
During the same period, police also recorded 2,512 serious injury accidents and 5,059 minor road accidents.
Among those killed were 467 pedestrians and 465 motorcyclists, highlighting the vulnerability of road users.
Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (Traffic) Senadheera stated that excessive speed and reckless driving remain the leading causes of fatal road accidents in Sri Lanka.
He said the new enforcement approach is intended to strengthen legal action against dangerous drivers, improve road discipline, and reduce the growing number of fatal crashes.
Police urged all motorists to strictly comply with traffic laws and drive responsibly, warning that those found engaging in reckless or dangerous driving will face court proceedings instead of receiving on-the-spot fines.
