Pairin proposes refresher course for drivers
KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister cum Infrastructure Development Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan yesterday proposed organizing refresher course for drivers to enhance their awareness on road safety.
Pairin, who is also the chairman of Sabah Road Safety Council, said the refresher course could be held monthly, once every two months or twice annually for all categories of driving licence holders.
“Perhaps the course can be held at a community hall for 5,000 drivers during which they are given lecture, advice or watch videos on road safety.”
He said the State Road Safety Council could also present zeroaccident drivers with recognition certificates.
Pairin said this when launching the State-level Road Users Safety Campaign in conjunction with Harvest Festival Month at Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) grounds here yesterday.
The campaign serves to remind drivers to slow down when they are on the road.
Furthermore, he said the council had also printed and distributed reminders to road users on eight road safety tips, which were adapted from the Transport Minister’s seven road safety tips.
The State Road Safety Council has added ‘Don’t drink and drive’ as the eighth tip.
Pairin said the road safety tips should be attached to every car’s dashboard to serve as a reminder to drivers.
He also voiced the need to increase and improve road safety signboards to ones that were more durable and easily noticed, as well as carry out analysis in accident-prone locations to identify the causes contributing to road accidents.
Pairin urged drivers not to take road safety lightly.
“Accidents do not only happen in collision between two vehicles, there are also self-accidents.”
He said some self-accident drivers gave excuses such as avoiding dogs, seeing shadows or even ghosts when the fact was that they had too much to drink during Harvest Festival or wedding celebrations.
He said parents should also ensure their children follow road regulations and laws, including not to drive without a licence.
Pairin said a report cited that road accidents caused 10 times more deaths than diseases.
“The target of our campaign is to have zero accident, and thus zero death.”
Also present at the event were Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Datuk Michael Emban, Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai and DBKK director general Datuk Joannes Solidau.