Are Sri Lankan red government buses safe?

Sri Lankan red government buses, the CTB, are usually safe from major collisions, but they can still feel pretty risky because the driving is often aggressive, high-speed and impatient. The trip tends to include sudden hard braking and blind overtaking, so it ends up being unpleasant for most tourists.

These public buses are also extremely inexpensive, and they cover almost every route across the island. Yet they commonly have no air conditioning, they are packed well beyond what’s physically reasonable, and drivers seem to rely on blaring horns when they are overtaking on blind turns. If you want safety and comfort, most travellers should choose private AC minivans instead, take the trains, or hire a driver.