Risky to go after hit and run suspects

THE incident at Kuchai Avenue in Kuala Lumpur should serve as another wake-up call for motorists not to react instinctively whenever they are victims of “hit and run” accidents, “Fender bender fuels stabbing” ( The Star, Feb 14).

Two brothers chased a vehicle that had scraped their car’s bumper. After 400m, both cars came to a stop in standstill traffic. The brothers got down to inspect the damage but were attacked by a passenger from the other vehicle. One brother was stabbed in the thigh while the other was punched in the face.

Footage of the incident recorded on their car’s dashcam was uploaded and went viral on social media. It also led to the arrest of the assailant who was found in possession of drugs.

Motorists should always bear in mind that drivers of other vehicles are not obliged to pay compensation for damage caused by them, although it is the right thing to do.

Those who offer compensation usually do so for minor accidents, as it is inconvenient to run one or more trips to the police station. It is also more costly to pay up to RM300 for the compound fine, losing the no-claim discount and possibly accumulating demerit points.

But forcing the driver of the runaway vehicle to stop would be a grave mistake, as it can usually lead to a quarrel and even violence.

If the fleeing car were to hit a wall or crash into a monsoon drain and people in the vehicle were injured, the driver of the chasing vehicle could be charged with dangerous driving. YS CHAN Kuala Lumpur