A ROAD safety expert has called on the authorities to ban heavy vehicles such as long hauliers from using town and highways during peak traffic hours.
Datuk Suret Singh, an outspoken road safety advocate, who is the former Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) chairman, said that road accidents can be prevented if all users adhere to the safety guidelines.
"Our safety policy in the country is that all crashes are preventable based on correct safety policies and practises by road users."
Suret underscored that the authorities should impose city and town council area bans on large heavy vehicles such as trailers from 7.30 am to 9.30 am and from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm to allow safer travel to and from work.
He also said the authorities need to fully enforce the competent driver's licence requirements and begin suspending drivers for exceeding the 20 demerit points.
Unfortunately, the majority of road users are not adhering so the outcome is high fatalities and injuries on the public and private roads," Suret.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah recently revealed that 5,364 people died in road accidents in the first 10 months of this year.
It translates to an average of 17 people dying on Malaysian roads daily and this does not include victims, who are injured, traumatised or scarred for life.
Many in civil society opined that Malaysians become "ugly drivers" from outright physical abuse to road bullying and reckless driving due to the constant pressure they face on the roads, especially when heavy vehicles dominate narrow passageways.
The tragedy at Bukit Mertajam should not have happened, said Suret in response to a 21-year-old female office worker, who was crushed to death by a dislodged container.
"If the containers on the haulier followed secure loading of the Road Transport Department (JPJ) technical guidelines, it would not have toppled from the trailer."
Suret recommended that under Section 62 of the Land Public Transport Agency Act, the fleet haulage operator should be suspended for safety non-compliance and violation of the Industrial Code of Safety Practise.
According to Section 201 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, anyone who intentionally or negligently endangers the safety of passengers on a public service vehicle, including buses and lorries, can face a fine of up to RM50,000 or seven years imprisonment, or both.
"When enforcement is strict, the confidence level of road users can go up to 80%."
Suret said that the authorities also need to increase the use of speed cameras and traffic light cameras to deter traffic abusers. - The Vibes, November 22, 2024.
