Reckless motorists will be produced directly before courts instead of being issued on-the-spot traffic fines, under new instructions issued to all Police traffic officers, Deputy Inspector General of Police for Traffic Control and Road Safety W.P.J. Senadheera said.

The move comes amid a sharp rise in road fatalities across the country.Police said 1,292 fatal road accidents were recorded between January 1 and June 26 this year, claiming 1,357 lives. During the same period, 2,512 serious injury accidents and 5,059 minor accidents were also reported.Among those killed were 467 pedestrians and 465 motorcyclists.

The DIG said excessive speed and reckless driving remain the leading causes of fatal road accidents.