Unheeded warning of road condition contributed to Bintulu crash — Tiong

KUCHING: Bintulu Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing says he is saddened that his regular warning and criticism of road conditions in Bintulu fell on deaf ears, culminating in an accident which claimed three lives.

He said the tragic accident involving a school bus was not the only one to occur in Bintulu yesterday, as another lorry had also crashed due largely to the very bad road condition.

“I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy and condolence to the family of all victims of the fatal accident that happened this morning (yesterday),” Tiong said when contacted.

He slammed transportation companies that have little respect for the law and took both the police and Road Transport Department (JPJ) to task for failing to penalise overloading lorries.

He also chided the Public Works Department ( JKR) for failing to monitor contractors implementing road upgrading works that resulted in fatal road accidents.

“Transportation companies must ensure their drivers do not carry cargo exceeding the permitted limit to avoid them from endangering other road users.

“They must also hire two drivers for long distance trips and make sure that the driver will only stop to rest at safe places with proper signage, and with the hazard lights on.

“The companies must also make sure their lorries are always in good condition so that they do not break down easily and subsequently parked at dangerous spots along the road.”

Tiong called on JPJ and the police to take stern action against lorries that carry goods in a dangerous manner which threatens the safety of other road users.

On the condition of the BintuluMiri coastal road where yesterday’s fatal accident took place, he said there were too many stretches which did not have road shoulders for heavy vehicle to stop in case of emergency, thus posing danger to the other road users.

“I would like to ask JKR, why ( has) no action been taken (concerning road shoulders)?”

Yesterday’s accident claimed the lives of a bus driver and two schoolgirls, one of whom was the driver’s daughter.

The bus was ferrying 22 schoolchildren when the tragedy occurred around 6am.