NST,Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The bus crash that killed seven people at a Genting Sampah slip road is likely to end up as a statistic.
Experts tell us that education, engineering and enforcement (3Es) determine road safety.
We have heard of the need for new drivers to undergo training at driving schools, and for commercial vehicle drivers to hone their skills in defensive driving.
Schools conduct road safety exercises, and colleges and universities should continue to do the same. However, campaigns to educate the public on traffic offences such as jaywalking are so rare that many are not aware of it.
Several years ago, the police hauled up jaywalkers outside Sungei Wang Plaza and Lot 10 in Kuala Lumpur, including tourists who felt victimised as they were merely following the locals.
Little is known on the education received by those who are responsible for road safety.
For example, trees may be safely planted by the roadside or on road dividers, provided that guardrails are placed to prevent vehicles from smashing onto the tree trunks.
But this is not so and fatal accidents do occur.
The first-row seats in buses offer a majestic view but those seated there can be turned into human cannonballs if they don’t use the safety belts.
If such obvious dangers can be overlooked by the authorities, then it is easy to understand that flimsy bus bodies were for years allowed to be built on top of lorry chassis and used as public buses.
Unlike strong monoque buses that are built like cars, these buses usually collapse on impact, resulting in high casualties.
Twenty years ago, I came up with an idea that can improve safety for all vehicles: enable the headlights to flash automatically when horns are sounded.
I now call upon all car manufacturers to install an additional piece of wire to connect the horns to the headlights.
When driving and sensing danger ahead, drivers would first sound the horn and hope that other motorists or pedestrians take corrective action.
If the other party fails to respond, drivers will either brake or swerve to avoid a collision. However, the difference between an accident and a near-miss is often a split second.
As such, flashing the headlights when horns are pressed might prevent accidents and save lives.
This is especially true when the other party is in a noisy environment such as having his stereo on at full blast or the pedestrian is on a busy street. Some people can be deaf or indifferent to sounds.
A condenser can be added to the more expensive models which will allow the headlights to flash intermittently and would be particularly effective on rainy nights.
Even the minimal enforcement done has unearthed alarming facts. In one exercise in Terengganu, large number of motorists were found to have expired driving licences or no licence.
The government may have made third party insurance cover for motor vehicles mandatory but insurers might repudiate claims for accidents caused by unlicensed motorists.
The 3Es have proven to be inadequate. Therefore, a fourth E should be added to the equation: example. We all know that people, especially children, learn more through imitating than being told what to do.
Similarly, new drivers, no matter how well trained, will throw out what they have learned immediately after getting their driving licences.
To prove their skills and blend in with traffic, they quickly follow what other motorists do. Unfortunately, many pick up more bad points than good.
Example is a powerful factor and it is well known that Malaysians behave on the road in Singapore like Singaporeans, and vice versa.
As such, more thought and effort should go into developing and promoting good drivers.
The authorities should compile and release monthly statistics on action taken against errant drivers. As for irresponsible transport operators, their names should be made public, together with the offences committed.
The public should not be starved of good news either. We will be happy to read about good operators and drivers being recognized. If they are rewarded, it will encourage all to be exemplary on the roads.
YS Chan, Kuala Lumpur
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