CRACK THE WHIP ON ERRANT MOTORISTS
Too many lives have been lost on Malaysian roads
IAM at a loss for words over the road mishaps that occurred in recent weeks. As a journalist, I have to contain my anger so that I can produce a balanced and rational argument for my column.
Three road accidents had claimed eight lives since last month.
One accident was in Permatang Pauh, Penang, on March 14, in which a 19-year-old part-time model, who was under the influence of drugs, drove against the traffic along the North-South Expressway (NSE) and collided head-on with a Perodua Kelisa, killing the driver, Mohamad Fandi Rosli, 29.
This was followed by a tragedy that claimed the lives of six people from three generations in a family, when a trailer crashed and landed on their multi-purpose vehicle at Km403.3 of the NSE near the Tanjung Malim toll plaza on April 2.
It was reported that the lorry driver had six driving offences, including a criminal record under the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983, besides being booked once for driving without a licence.
And, last Thursday, Malaysians were mortified by a 12-second video of a speeding motorcyclist who beat a red light and rammed into a 58-year-old pedestrian who was crossing the road. The victim died several hours later of head injuries.
Yesterday, the 44-year-old motorcyclist, who was charged with recklessly riding a motorcycle and causing the death of Foo Swee Wah, claimed trial at the magistrate’s court in George Town.
A former schoolmate commented on the video and shared my concern about the safety of students crossing the road. She cited an example at SK Pokok Sena in Seberang Prai Utara.
She said irresponsible motorists and motorcyclists were a menace on the road, especially those who did not stop at red lights at the zebra crossing near the school.
Early yesterday morning, I staked out at an area near the school as schoolchildren arrived. I captured pictures of errant drivers and motorcyclists who did not pay heed to the red lights on the double-lane carriageway linking Padang Serai and Kulim in southern Kedah and Tasek Gelugor and Sungai Dua in Seberang Perai.
SK Pokok Sena is adjacent to SMK Pokok Sena, which easily makes the entire student population more than 1,000, and they share the road with thousands of motorists commuting between southern Kedah and northern Seberang Prai and Penang island.
My friend, who is a mother of two, shared a near-miss incident between a boy and a Perodua Kancil driven by a woman three months ago.
As a father of two, I could not help but share her concern about the safety of schoolchildren, who are forced to engage in a sort of Russian roulette while crossing the road, despite the presence of a zebra crossing and traffic lights.
It is high time for communities to mobilise campaigns for parents-teacher associations (PTAs) to install closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) at zebra crossings near schools to catch errant motorists beating the red light.
The recordings of these irresponsible motorists should be shared with police and other enforcement agencies for action.
Slapping them with traffic summons is one option, but we should not stop there — they should be taught a lesson.
Perhaps, include a monthslong community service of manning zebra crossing at the school where the offence is committed.
Statistics showed that 7,152 people died in road accidents last year, a jump from 6,706 deaths the year before.
Let’s push for harsher penalties to instil fear in errant and irresponsible motorists and to act as a deterrent.
At the same time, we should focus on road safety awareness programmes in schools to educate children.
When a colleague and I arrived at the Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, two months ago for an assignment, the first thing that the taxi driver told us was to buckle up.
In a thick Nepalese accent, he said motorists and passengers who failed to adhere to traffic regulations were slapped with a 500 riyal (RM600) fine, to be paid on the spot, or be taken to the police station.
I was told recently that the fine has been raised to 1,000 riyal.
If that is the way forward to crack the whip against errant motorists, we should consider it.
Too harsh? Too many lives have been lost on Malaysian roads. It is about time we put a stop to it.
Slapping them with traffic summons is one option, but we should not stop there — they should be taught a lesson.