Sri Lanka, Sept. 28 -- A driver demerit points system will launch in late September as a six-month pilot project to improve road safety and reduce traffic crashes, Transport, Highways, and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced at a media briefing in Colombo.

Traffic crashes take nearly 2,750 lives annually in Sri Lanka, creating an economic drain that costs between 3% and 5% of the gross domestic product while wiping out valuable foreign currency spent on imported vehicles.

Holding a driving license represents a major responsibility rather than a mere asset or privilege.

More than 30 countries worldwide currently use the demerit system, successfully lowering crash rates and fatalities by 15% to 20% over a 12 to 18-month...