IT has been encouraging to note that at last attention is being given to the increasing problem of motorcycles on the roads and in particular the sentiments expressed by Datuk Seri Azman Ujang when he highlighted the need for specific lanes for motorcycles, the owners of which seem to have taken possession of the roads whether they be mat rempit or just the casual person on the way to work. His concerns were also echoed by YS Chan in a letter to an English daily.
While we are keen to tell the world that we have the tallest building or the longest chain of pizzas we conveniently overlook the fact that we have the highest number of road accidents and fatalities.
Contributory causes are the total ignoring of even basic courtesies such as red lights, arrows and lines painted on the road, indiscriminate weaving in and out from lane to lane knocking mirrors or scratching the side of any vehicle that is in their way which has been exacerbated by motorcyclists delivering food. One wonders if they are adequately insured.
The problem of road indiscipline is not restricted to motorcycles as tailgating and braking distance do not seem to be in the average driver’s vocabulary. Who gives way to traffic on the right, indeed many speed up to prevent someone trying to make a legitimate exit from a side road.
At the other end of the scale, matters are not improved by the large number of motorists providing ride hailing services. They are either from outstation or part timers who are not familiar with city roads and slow down when checking their navigation apps to find their way.
Are not all of these offenders supposed to have taken a test on road rules – previously known as The Highway Code – before obtaining a licence? What happened to the slogans of yesteryear “Keep Death off the Road” and “Better Late than Dead on Time”. Apart from enforcement is it not time to adopt a campaign where grim pictures are displayed rather like those seen on cigarette packets designed to deter smokers?
Chris Syer
Kuala Lumpur
