Danger on the roads: How do serial offenders slip through the cracks?

It seems we are simply lacking the will or not doing enough to enforce traffic laws

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The tour bus driver whose coach crashed on the way down from Genting Highlands on 29 June reportedly did not have a valid driving licence.

The crash took the lives of two foreign tourists and injured others.

The Bentong Police chief revealed that the 32-year-old bus driver had 27 previous penalty notices for various traffic violations.

I have a few questions. Why is it so difficult for the government to clean up the roads and free us from dangerous motorists? In the first place, how are operators able to hire repeat traffic offenders? And why is it that only when fatal accidents happen do we find out that these motorists have committed many other traffic offences?

So much has been written about similar crashes on our roads throughout the country. Countless netizens have suggested solutions to make our motorways safer and free them from dangerous drivers and badly maintained vehicles.

The media too have consistently raised the alarm over poor road safety in the country.

Many developed nations have done well in ensuring that their traffic laws are enforced.

Despite the trumpeted modernisation of Malaysia, road safety in the country leaves much to be desired.

Faced with criticisms, we seem content to say we are still better off than many other nations.

Some commercial vehicle drivers seem to be boldly ignoring traffic rules, overloading and sometimes even engaging in bullying other road users. I have personally witnessed certain lorry and bus drivers watching movies on their mobile phones while behind the wheel.

Operation after operation, campaign after campaign does not seem to have improved safety on our roads. The recent tour bus crash in Genting Highlands attests to this problem.

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It seems we are simply lacking the will or not doing enough to enforce traffic laws.

Surely, we are not so hopeless that we are unable to tackle poor road safety and traffic violations in the country. We certainly do not need more ‘lawatan sambil belajar’ expeditions (study tours) to other countries to bring home new solutions.

Is corruption at the root of this failure, this neglect, this indifference and this couldn’t-care-less attitude? If so, then we must be prepared to see more deaths, more serious injuries and more losses on our roads.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
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  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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Theresa
Theresa
7 Jul 2024 4.35pm

There is really no enforcement. Come to Taman Medan in PJ. It’s a cowboy town. No helmets, 3 to 4 on a bike, the traffic lights don’t apply. The law is waiting for the signages put up to come to life to enforce it?

Rajaretnam Nadason
Rajaretnam Nadason
7 Jul 2024 10.07am

Hit the Employers of these rogues hard with high fines, not just a slap on the wrist. Cancel their company licence. This would teach other such employers. Of course political will is needed, and I won’t hold my breath that this will will be forthcoming.