Worried about safety on the highways

I REFER to the report, “Four Singaporeans killed after lorry rams their MPV” ( The Star, Jan 4), which has again raised the serious question of how safe our roads are.

In light of the number of fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles, both lorries and buses, over the past few months, the public is concerned and anxious about whether drivers of these vehicles obey traffic signs and speed limits along our roads, and especially the highways.

Despite enforcement by the authorities, road accidents that claim lives are still happening when they could be prevented if drivers had obeyed the rules.

Reckless and careless driving has contributed significantly to the statistics of fatal accidents in recent years. In some cases, drivers were found to be drug addicts. How they were recruited to drive is simply shocking.

To counter reckless behaviour and bad attitude of drivers, the authorities have to impose more stringent rules. I would suggest that drivers of heavy vehicles go through a stringent driving test every two years, have their mental health evaluated, and undergo medical examination for drug or substance abuse, among others.

Submit their particulars to the police to check whether they are hardcore traffic offenders or have any criminal record to stop bad drivers from driving.

We see lorries and buses plying the north-south highways travelling beyond the speed limit all the time. In many cases, drivers of cars and motorcyclists have to move to the side or give way to avoid coming too close with these giant vehicles.

Accidents happen in two ways – either someone knocks into you or you knock into someone’s car. For now, natural disasters contribute insignificantly to the statistics of road accidents.

To prevent road accidents, drivers must follow all the traffic rules and consider the safety of other road users as well. The number of tragic accidents in recent times point to the fact that no one is safe on the road and we often wonder whether we would arrive at our destination safe and sound.

Attributing road accidents to fate is simply being irresponsible. We have to take responsibility for ourselves and for others too when we are behind the wheel.

To do this, we have no alternative but to stay alert, be vigilant and practise defensive driving when we are on the road. DR TAN ENG BEE Kajang