KUALA LUMPUR – Motorists using highways are urged to not repair their broken-down vehicles in emergency lanes but to contact the 999 emergency hotline or the highway’s operator for assistance.
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research board of directors’ chairman Datuk Suret Singh said attempting to repair vehicles or changing tyres in highway emergency lanes is very dangerous.
“All highway operators have patrol and rescue units, so contact them for assistance to avoid any loss of life. If you don’t have the number on your phone, you can obtain it through a Google search.
“Highway patrol units will usually arrive as soon as possible and tow the vehicle to the nearest rest area. Also, all passengers need to exit the vehicle and gather outside the road barrier,” he said in a statement today.
He advised motorists to learn from the fatal incident at North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite) on December 18 that killed 10 people.
A mother and eight of her children, as well as a mechanic, were killed in an incident involving three cars and a trailer at the Elite USJ rest area heading towards Shah Alam.
The trailer was believed to have rammed into three cars that had stopped at the emergency lane after one of them broke down.
Suret said broken-down vehicles should engage their emergency lights and drivers are advised to place a reflective triangle or a safety cone around 30m behind the vehicle and use a flashlight for the purpose.
“This is to enable other motorists to see the broken-down vehicle in the emergency lane,” he said.
He also suggested that motorists keep a reflective vest to be used at night in the event of a breakdown.
“It is good to have such a vest available in the vehicle for emergencies,” he added. – Bernama, December 23, 2021
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