They say “no news is good news”. For more than 3 to 4 months now, the national newspapers in Malaysia, The New Straits Times, The Star, the Berita Harian, Nanyang Siang Pau and others, had not reported about any bus crashes. And then, the public were shocked when two tragic bus crashes were reported, one after the other.

In Behrang, Perak, 4 people lost their lives when the express bus they were travelling in, skidded and keeled over along the North – South Expressway on Friday night, 11.11.11. Students from Air Merah Secondary School, Khairul Anwar Azhan and Maysarra Zaidi both 15, and their teacher Siti Hajar Mohamed 33, were in a bus that overturned. The three were attempting to rescue their friends, who were trapped in the bus, when a sand laden trailer ploughed into their bus. The gruesome incident took place at the 382nd kilometer, a 100m from the rest area at about 4.20 a.m.

It was reported that the above bus was carrying 36 students and 3 teachers. The driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle when one of its front tyres burst. The bus then overturned. While attempts were being made to get the students and teachers out, a trailer reportedly hit the stationary bus from behind.

A few days prior to this incident at Behrang, 25 people were reportedly injured in a highway crash, in an accident which took place at the KM19 along the Ayer Hitam–Johore Baru stretch, minutes after it had crossed the Kulai toll plaza. A passenger, S. Parvathy 26, who sustained head injuries, said the bus driver was then speeding.

According to Johore Baru (North) deputy O.C.P.D., Supt. Mohd Akhir Ishak, said police were now in the process of questioning the 45 year old bus driver. The accident is being investigated under “reckless driving”, which comes under section 43 of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Hardly one day had passed by, when another express bus, which was then transporting workers from the Hospital Sultanah Aminah near Johore Baru, overturned. The impact of the accident was so bad that the bus split into two. In this accident, it was learnt that the bus driver was also speeding. This had caused him to lose control of the vehicle.

Commenting on the recent spate of accident involving bus expresses, the Land Public Transport Authority (SPAD) has urged passengers to report directly to them if the drivers of buses they are travelling in speed or driver recklessly. SPAD it is said, has a special team stationed in Putrajaya, who will immediately contact bus operators when a report of speeding is made by a passenger.

All that is needed is the bus registration number, what time and where the incident took place. And immediate action will be taken!

Commenting on the two recent bus express accidents, SPAD Chief Operating Officer Encik Azhar Ahmad, gave a stern warning to bus operators to ensure that the safety of passenger is given top priority. Otherwise, he warned they stand to lose their licenses.

Regarding the 3 latest bus express incidents which took place just last week, one, the Behrang case which took place along the North – West expressway, two, the incident which took place at the Ayer Itam Johore Baru Road and finally the accident which took place near Johore Baru where the bus overturned, let us now study in greater detail how the above 3 crashes took place.

In one of the incidents, the driver was reported to have lost control of his vehicle, when his front tyre burst. In the other 2 incidences, passengers complained that the drivers of the bus express, buses were in fact speeding or travelling at dangerous speeds.

As such, high speeds seem to be the main cause of express buses going out of control. To prevent such future incidences from happening, I would like to make a few suggestions. It is uncertain if they will be even be considered at all. Nonetheless, no harm attempting, I believe.

My Humble Suggestion

The suggestion I would like to put forward are as follows:-

i) In Turkey, all tour and express bus move only during the daylight hours. They stop after 8.00pm. The authorities there believe, buses travelling at night represent “danger”.

Can the authorities here in Malaysia consider this suggestion seriously? I would like to make a serious suggestion whereby all tour buses should stop travelling by midnight, which means all express buses should reach their destinations on the stroke of midnight.

The Land Public Transport Commission or SPAD, people should look into this recommendation seriously in order to prevent accidents from happening.

ii) As speeding by bus drivers seems to be the main culprit for causing most of the accidents, would it be possible to control the speed of the tour or express buses to a maximum speed of 50 or 60 km/h? As they say speed kills!

Well, what about it? Will the public accept a 10 hour journey from Kuala Lumpur to Penang beginning from 10.00 am and finally reaching Penang Island at 10.00 pm? Bearing in mind that 2 rest stops along the way, each ½ hour stops will have to be made in the interest of passengers and bus drivers.

As they say, travelling by bus may eventually be slower and may take a longer time if my suggestion is to be implemented. But it will definitely be safer. I’m sure there will be less accidents taking place.

Those who cannot accept the fact that going back to Penang will take 10 to 12 hours should then opt for an alternative transport. I will only be putting forward 2 suggestions this time around. It is believed that it would be pointless to give more suggestions if the authorities are disinterested in giving these suggestions its proper accord.

Give the above two suggestions some thoughts first. Implement them and see what the results are. Then, other suggestions can then be put forward. Training for drivers, buses being constructed well and ensuring that bus drivers refraining from usage of drugs and so on, can be attended to at a later stage. As Confucius said, “the journey to a thousand miles begin with the first step”.

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For your information, electric bicycles have been used in Malaysia and other neighbouring countries like Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand for quite some time now. In our country Malaysia alone, electric bicycles are said to have been used here for more than 6 years now.

Banning the electric bicycles at this late stage, would be likened to “stemming the tide from rising” or like one of my English teachers once telling me, when I was 13 year old “asking a baby not to cry!”

With this in view, the Malaysian public awaits with bated breath and expectations, the government’s decision regarding electric bicycles usage.

Do we or don’t we allow its usage by the public in Malaysia? Only time will tell.

The public enernestly hopes, that electric bicycles will be allowed to be used in Malaysia. So, to all users of electric bicycles, be patient a little longer. Do not sell your bicycles as “scrap iron” just yet. In Malaysia, anything can possibly happen. “Malaysia Boleh”, as Malaysians are so tend of saying!

What do I recommend that the authorities do with regards to electric bicycles then?

I would like to suggest that:-

1) A new class of license for electric bicycles be created, say B3 (for electric bicycles only). B3 licenses cannot ride the normal motorcycles.

2) A simpler form of test to be created to test elderly folks who aspire to use the electric bicycles.

3) Electric bicycles should not permit to be used by young people, for example school children.

4) Electric bicycle users have to also use safety helmets as well.

5) Like motorcycles, electric bicycles should also be forced to buy a special insurance to cover riders as well as protect the public.

6) Ensure that electric bicycles have headlamps and tail lights if they are to be used at night.

Electric bicycles, although small and light in weight, as compared to the usual motorcycles can travel quite fast on the road. It is believed that electric bicycles can travel up to 40 km/h. At this speed, it is believed that nasty accidents and injuries can very well take place.

With the above proposed rules and regulations, it is hoped that the use of electric bicycles can thus be regulated. The need to ban or disallow electric bicycles on Malaysian roads will no longer be bone of contention.

With my above suggestion, manufacturers of electric bicycles will not face the problem of having to close down their factories. Users of electric bicycles will without a doubt be happy with the decision.

“Environmentalists”, like Consumer Association of Penang’s President Encik Gurmit Singh, will be very happy with the government’s wise decision.

The decision as to whether the electric bicycle will be allowed to be used in Malaysia or otherwise is still left to be seen. Together, we await the government’s decision.

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Students who wish to procure a driving license, irregardless of whether it is a D license (cars) or a B2 license (motorcycles below 250c.c.), have time and again been drummed into their heads that to drive or handle a motorized vehicle, requires a valid driving license.

The Road Transport Act 1987 or the Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987, stipulates very explicitly, a failure to possess a driving license is an offence. A person can be charged under Section 26(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. Contravening the above regulation, a person can be brought to court under Section 26(2) of the Act. He can even be fined up to RM150 for the offence committed.

In an announcement to the public in the media recently, the Minister of Transport, Datuk Kong Cho Ha, said that studies are now being done to determine whether electric bicycles should be allowed on the road.

The Transport Minister further was reported to have reiterated, “Studies are being conducted and recommendations have been put to the cabinet.”

According to the Transport Minister, Datuk Kong, as a matter of fact the use of electric bicycles has to be regulated. There are currently no laws that regulate or govern its usage.

It is further reported, if electric bicycles are to be allowed to be used, the government has to make a decision who in reality can use it and under what specific rules will come under it.

I have seen instances of electric bicycles being used in village or kampung areas. It is normally being used by the more elderly folks, who drive it around to sundry shops and other shopping outlets.

There is without a doubt, “two sides to a coin” as the saying goes. Being such, the authorities, especially the Road Transport Department has to ponder very carefully whether to ban the use of electric bicycles in our country.

The pros and cons obviously have to be considered before a decision can be reached. This is inspite of the fact that Road Transport Authorities currently possess adequate and clear rules and regulations under the Road Transport Act 1987.

As stated earlier, users of electric bicycles, who are mainly made up of the elderly and pensioners I presume, say electric bicycles should not be banned. They claim that benefits outweigh the risks involved. Thus this saying exists, “the ends justify the means”.

Therefore basing it on the popular saying above, the maxim seems to be, “if it brings good and benefits people, continue to allow it to be used.” Why stop its usage?

But allowing electric bicycles to be used as per “status quo” today, might not be the correct decision. It is therefore my opinion, that for the sake of safety and the protection of electric bicycle users and the public as a whole, recommendation should be evolved and variable suggestions put forward.

This would then result in what is considered a “win-win” situation for all parties, the users, the manufactures of the electric bicycles themselves, the Road Transport Authorities and others. All in all, everybody will be happy about it. And the environment, most of all, will eventually benefit from the usage of it.

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