First, it was the giving away of 135,000 safety helmets to riders all across the nation. Then the government announced the reduction of motorcycle driving licenses from RM20 to only RM2. The cost of securing a B2 motorcycle license then fell from nearly RM280 to RM210.

Can we next expect the government to provide motorcyclists with free personal accident policies?

In a country where huge tractors have gone lost from government establishments and jet engines worth millions of ringgit have been carted out and sold overseas, anything is quite possible. Malaysia Boleh, I suppose!

Very recently, the Road Safety Department Director General, Datuk Sureet Singh, announced the Rider Survival Programme would be a value-added module on top of the present mandatory 6 hour theory course and practical training which a potential candidate has to undergo prior to his being issued a Learner’s Driving License (L.D.L.) or “L” license by the J.P.J. The above steps were announced in safety campaign programme in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Beginning from the year 2010, motorcyclists will now be taught survival skills at selected driving institutions all across the country. The aim is to reduce and minimize road fatalities involving motorcyclists.

What does this programme hope to achieve? What are the aims of the government in launching such a campaign, one may tend to inquire?

First and foremost, it is the intention of the authorities concerned to make it a continuous effort to change the mindset of motorcyclists. And also to make road safety a culture, especially among the youths of today.

What has this programme been thought fit to be introduced at this stage?

With the problem of the “Mat Rempit” menace escalating all across the whole country, the government obviously has to do something to contain the problem.

One should not forget though, 60% of all road fatalities in the country involve motorcyclists. According to the Director General of the Road Transport Department, Datuk Sureet Singh, “motor cyclists who currently had the “L” license will now have to undergo compulsory training under the programme before they can be awarded a license to ride.

Under the programme, various important skills such as:

i) How to face unforeseen problems as punctured tyres.

ii) How to deal with bumpy roads.

iii) How to contend with obstacles such as such and stones on the road.

In short, new motorcyclists holding “P” licenses can now be expected to equipped with not only the Highway Code and practical training, practical and survival knowledge as well.

This new programme is to be available free of charge in all driving institutions which currently come under the auspices of the Association of Malaysian Driving Institutes.

Datuk Sureet Singh further reiterated, this model programme would become a model for other ASEAN countries to follow.

It was also reported that Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) would be playing a vital and important part in the programme. This is due to the fact that 19,742 claims have been put forward to SOCSO for commuting or “going to work” claims by motorcyclists. 80% of claims involve motorcyclists.

SOCSO was said to have paid out claims amounting to some RM1.8 million in compensation to subscribers last year alone.

All in all, it is my opinion that this program, which is free, will certainly go along way to help motorcyclists and riders tackle problem which they will face whilst on the road.

Eventually, it is hoped the number of fatal accidents on our highways will be reduced tremendously. Syabas to the Road Safety Department and the authorities as a whole, for launching such a good move! We all await patiently to see the results of the programme.

Ride safely and wear your helmets. To the Minister of Transport, Datuk Ong Tee Keat, bravo for job well done!

To attempt achieving a Class D driving license, a potential student needs a few months. Securing the license above does not end his or her woes and problems. In fact, his or her problems begin.

A new and inexperienced driver begins facing such problems as summons, parking fees and traffic violations. Besides this, an inexperienced driver will begin to face numerous risks and emergencies. Amongst some most common challenges are:

i) The inability of his car not being able to start at times.

ii) His vehicle crashing into a swollen river.

iii) The possibility of his car catching fire or bursting into flames.

To avoid the third possibility mentioned above taking place, a driver should purchase 1st party insurance, which covers risks of fire.

Having fire insurance cover for your car alone is not sufficient. Drivers should be reminded that a vehicle especially a new vehicle should also have fire extinguishers in it. But, except for commercial vehicles such as vans, buses, lorries and trailers, most cars and other vehicles do not have fire extinguishers.

Before continuing further, permit me to relate a true incident to all my readers. My late father was a lorry driver. During the Japanese occupation, he met an accident. His lorry overturned in an accident one fine day.

My father was pinned underneath his vehicle which caught fire. He was pulled out from the wreckage alive but sustained very serious burns to both his legs. He remained in hospital for over a year.

Ugly burn marks covered my dad’s legs after that. In fact, he was lucky to be alive.

What I am attempting to impress all readers is that, amongst all the emergencies a driver faces, fire which can very likely break out in a vehicle represents the biggest threat.

Believe it or not, only a fire extinguisher in your car can possibly save you. Think about this advice seriously. If you do not have a fire extinguisher in your car, your spouse’s vehicle or even your children’s cars, it is about time you contemplate equipping their vehicles with this important and life saving item.

You can earn all the money in the world, but as the saying goes, “you only but live once!”

Incidentally, my daughter’s, son’s and wife’s vehicles, all possess fire extinguishers in their cars. Why do I make it my responsibility to equip my family member’s vehicles with fire extinguishers?

Because I am a lecturer of the Kursus Pendidikan Pemandu (K.P.P.) course, which in fact is intended to prevent accidents.

What is a fire extinguisher?

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations.

In case you are unaware, all commercial vehicles, which are inspected once in 6 months by the Puspakom authorities, are required to have fire extinguishers. It is a mandatory requirement.

It is an extremely good move. Syabas and congratulations to the J.P.J. and Transport Authorities for implementing such a good and sound move!

It should in fact be extended to cover all vehicles and cars as well.

If the Jabatan Bomba can make all commercial centres, shops, offices and supermarkets adhere to the mandatory requirement to have these important life saving equipment in their premises, it is my opinion that cars and vehicles on roads can likewise be forced to do the same.

Some readers might disagree with my contention and suggestions. They might even say we can use water as a solution to fire extinguishers if a fire should break out in a vehicle.

It should be reminded that water would affect the wiring system of a vehicle. Furthermore, it causes dampness and rust will evolve. Thus, it is not a good alternative.

A fire which takes but a few minutes to engulf a vehicle will destroy a vehicle within minutes. The only item that can save the driver and passengers is but a fire extinguisher!

Think about it carefully. Hopefully, you’ll take this advice seriously. But unfortunately, and advice can only be given. To take it or otherwise, depends solely upon you and you alone, and no one else.

They say, no news is good news. During the duration of the recent road safety campaign, from 7th February to 21st February 2010, surprisingly the newspapers did not report any major accidents happening across the country.

There were reports of many traffic offences. Even the Director General of J.P.J., whilst going back home to his state of origin was said to have been appalled with the behavior of many motorists.

They were reported to have used the emergency lanes, using road shoulders and overtaking at double lines. Encik Solat, the Director has caught many of these actions on his digital camera. Rest assured, these offenders will be identified soon and hauled to court.

If you have read the daily newspaper, you would surely have observed one thing different pertaining to this year’s Ops Sikap 21 Campaign. To be fair to the authorities which conducted the above campaign this Chinese New Year balik kampung exercise, it seems to have recorded very few if not any major accidents happening.

As I mentioned earlier, no news is good news, they say. So, before proceeding any further, permit me to extend my congratulations once again to those connected with the exercise. Especially the J.P.J., the police authorities, Bomba personnel and civil defense officials, who in one way or another are responsible for its success.

It was therefore not a surprise, that the Star newspaper of the 25th February 2010 edition announced “Fatalities from accidents during the C.N.Y. period have dropped”, says the Transport Minister, Datuk Ong Tee Keat.

First of all, let’s give you some facts and figures how this result has been achieved.

Road death it seems recorded this C.N.Y. campaign dropped from 212 to 201, compared to the same period last year. It’s only minimal. But nonetheless, it’s still a drop anyway.

Secondly, there has also been a 27.8% drop in the daily average of deaths. There was also a dropped of 3% where the number of accidents was concerned.

However, Datuk Ong reiterated, he hoped this was not something temporary. He further said that the authorities would like to see a drop of accidents to zero percent if possible in the coming future.

Thirdly, the daily average of 13 deaths during the month long campaign from January 21st and which continued during the Ops Sikap Campaign 21 was even lower than the usual average of 18 deaths caused by road accidents.

And finally, this number of accidents recorded during the campaign period also dropped to 14,185 this year from 14,618 of last year.

According to the Datuk Ong, the Automated Enforcement System (A.E.S.) will be launched in the near future.

The A.E.S. system is expected to be passed in Parliament soon. What is the A.E.S?

Through this system, digital cameras would be installed at accident prone areas. Expressways and state roads will also not escape surveillance.

The above images will be registered in the J.P.J.’s system and summonses will be issued to offenders.

This system is believed to be able to minimize on graft cases too. All in all, the country looks forward to the implementation of the Automated Enforcement System.