Tragedies, especially fatal road accidents, are unfortunate incidents and it is indeed a heart- wrenching episode for the immediate family members of the victims.

However, we cannot categorise all fatal accidents as purely unfortunate incidents. Many of the fatal tragedies on our roads, especially on the highways, could have been prevented if our motorists and other road-users had adhered and respected the safety rules.

Many a time the blame for the accident had been attributed to speeding. However, not all motorists who speed on the highway end up in a nasty accident. Being a regular user of the North-South Plus highway, I notice motorists who are using the right side fast lane rarely get involved in pile-up or an accident.

Practically all the accidents that I have witnessed over the many years of traveling on the highway involved motorists using the left lane. It will be interesting to analyse the accident statistics on this subject. I reckon an analysis of the national accident data is likely to reveal that many, perhaps, more than 85%, of the accidents on the highway involve motorists using the left lane or the emergency lane.

One of the reasons, I suspect, for these accidents is that driving on the left lane somewhat affects the motorists’ state of alertness especially when one is travelling long distance in the night. This could be due to the rather monotonous and boring ride on the left lane. I find that driving on the right fast lane is generally safer and keeps me wide awake. Since I am on the fast lane, I also tend to be more cautious and alert.

However, I found driving on the left lane very risky and dangerous especially at night when the visibility is limited to about 30 to 40 meters depending on the vehicle's headlights. Many a time I have come across stalled heavy vehicles parked right smack on the left lane without adequate lightings and warnings in the night.

The authorities should ensure that all heavy vehicles are adequately fitted with visible warning lights. I notice many of the lorries and other heavy vehicles on the road with very dimly-fitted rear lights. Motorists find it difficult to distinguish heavy vehicles with dim rear lights during the night.

What irks me most is allowing poorly maintained and dimly-lighted heavy vehicles to move freely on the highway at night by the enforcement authorities. The authorities should prevent poorly-maintained heavy vehicles from plying the highways during the night. These are the very vehicles that normally break down on the highway and pose a danger to other motorists.

It should be made mandatory for all heavy vehicles to install visible rotating warning lights for night traveling. In the event the vehicle breaks down on the highway, it should be immediately be towed away to a safe place. Placing cones and hardly visible flash lights to warn motorists of the stalled vehicle in the night are not good enough.

It is apparent poor visibility of the roads at night has been one of the major factors for several tragic accidents. I am of the opinion that if our highways are brightly lit in the night, we can drastically cut down on the number of accidents.

I am aware of the huge cost involved in lighting up the hundreds of kilometers of roads of our highways. One alternative method of overcoming the logistics and costs of lighting up the roads is to explore the use of solar-powered road or street lights.

Since we are in a region where we are blessed with ample sunlight daily, we should be able to tap its energy. Solar-powered street or road lights are relatively easy to install and maintain and it is cost effective in the long run. The use of solar-powered road/street lights will not only make our roads brighter and safer but will go a long way in promoting the use of green technology in the country.