It is compulsory for cars and small lorries to have seat belts if you are driving in Malaysia. The wearing of rear seat belt was recently introduced here in March 2010. The seat belt or more popularly known as the “safety belt”, was said to have been first introduced in America by Ford motors corporation.

In most write ups on motoring, unfortunately the topic regarding seat belt are normally not accorded prominence. However, in a recent article prepared for motorists in conjunction with the forth coming festive season for Hari Raya celebrations, a leading car manufacturer has prepared a very informative article with regards to seat belts for young passengers.

I happened to come across the above article and feels it should be highlighted for the benefit of all other readers who might have missed reading it.

Seat belts or safety belts are important. Seat belts may simply be a piece of cloth. But in reality, it saves millions of lives. In Malaysia, under the Road Transport Ordinance 1987, via Circular K.4 MV(SSB) 78 (P.U.A 378/78), a person not wearing a seat belt can be fined by the courts a sum of RM100.

While many countries clearly stipulate that a child below the age of 12 years is not allowed to sit in the front seat, in Malaysia, there is no such ruling to determine where a young child should be seated. Nevertheless, as children’s safety are important considerations to most parents, these things should in fact be given serious considerations by parents to children travelling in cars.

Below are a few important and useful tips which parents can opt to adopt. Hopefully they can ensure a safe and trouble free for all of us.

In earlier articles elsewhere in this blog, I have time and again stressed that it is impertinent to inspect what is behind and also beside the vehicle prior to reversing. Incidents have been reported of parents knocking into their own children while reversing. Family members and loved ones, eager to send off a child, have often become victims of such accidents.

No child should ever be allowed to travel in the front seat. This is because, there has been reports of “air bags”, which is a modern contraption of most cars nowadays, have been reported to have caused injuries to small children during accidents.

Children below the age of 12 and especially small babies, should only travel in a car strapped up in special toddler seats specially meant for them. In Malaysia, it looks as if local laws are silent on how to transport young children. As such, parents should therefore follow the manufacturer’s recommendations as closely as possible.

The article to which I am referring to, suggests that the correct type and size of seat for children should be chosen. First of all, there is available what is known as “Infant Seats”, suitable for babies from birth up to 10kg. Secondly, there is the “Convertible Safety Seats” for babies weighing 10kg to 18kg. Thirdly, there is also available what’s called “Booster Seats” for children or babies weighing 18kg to 27kg. And finally, there are also special “safety seat” belts for slightly bigger babies.

Besides the types of safety seats for the young children already mentioned, the safety of our young siblings does not depend solely upon these seats alone. There are certain things and precautions parents should take into consideration as well. Amongst them, are:-

1. Make sure that a child safety seat that is need is properly buckled down and secured before driving off.

2. All heavy items should ideally be secured in “cargo nets” or “straps” to prevent them from flying around should an accident happen.

3. Children should never be left unattended in the car, particularly in the hot, Malaysian sun. It is very dangerous. Babies can easily be killed in the extreme heat. Or worst of all, babies could very well be abducted by car jackers.

Likewise, small children can very well accidentally release hand brakes, or they could get out of the cars and run the risk of getting run over by another vehicle on the road.

4. It is important to ensure children are not allowed to put out their heads/hands out of the windows while the vehicle is moving.

5. Make sure vehicles ideally have driver controlled windows and door locks so that children cannot open them while the vehicle is moving.

6. Lock all doors when vehicles are moving.

7. Do not have balloons, small toys or food which could cause chocking in the car.

8. Dangerous objects and sharp items should ideally be kept away from children’s reach.

9. Electric lighters should also be removed.

10. Finally, a car should be equipped with emergency triangles, a flashlight, a medical first aid box and a fire extinguisher as well.

With the above suggestions given, it is hoped that the safety of our children can be ensured as they travel along with their parents in their journey back home this festive season.

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After the Sikap campaign or the Road Safety Campaign conducted by the authorities, the Road Transport Department(J.P.J.), the police and others, no more tragic and horrific incidents were reported this year.

The J.P.J followed up the above campaign with stringent checks on tour and express buses. The Road Transport Department at one stage was reported to have resorted to buying tickets and boarding express buses to check upon the antics of buses’ drivers.

For over more than 40 days, the public did not hear of any reports of accidents after that “No news, they say, is good news.” But is this really true?

Then on Sunday 20 March, 2011, what Malaysians have so often feared to hear and read about happened again. At KM 341.9 of the North-South Highway, to be exact, near Bidor, Perak, a bus express was reported to have been involved again in another tragic accident.

Six passengers who were badly injured were reportedly taken to hospitals in Tapah, Teluk Intan and Ipoh. 2 others who sustained minor injuries were sent to the Tapah Hospital.

Unfortunately, a 74 year old passenger of the express bus, Sahad Shariff Md Din, 74, died in the above horrific accident on that fateful night. Although himself injured, Shariff, was rescuing other injured passengers when the ill fated bus express, was surprisingly hit for a second time by, of all things, a large container reportedly said to be carrying paper reels.

The container had rammed into the back of the express bus. As a result, Shariff, a good Samaritan, was himself killed while attempting to rescue others. He died in the process of trying to help others. A real “hero” indeed!

Regarding the above accident, Tapah O.C.P.D., Superintendent Roslan Bek Ahmad, told reporters that it took the Fire and Rescue Department personnel over more than an hour to free the 3 victims trapped in the mangled wreck!

Let us now study what’s the reason why so many express buses are involved in tragic accidents. It has now come to a stage whereby the public has come to consider travelling by express buses as being one of the most dangerous mode of transport.

I have friends who would wish to sight see our own country. These friends normally visit oversea countries such as Taiwan, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Italy and other European nations.

My own wife has seen and visited most countries of the world. Due to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis which recently hit Japan, our closest neighbour, these group of Malaysians now feel that they should visit tourist spots back home.

Most Malaysians have yet to see tourist attraction spots in our country. One example is historical Malacca. Pulau Pinang is yet another interesting place one should pay a visit to. “Betong” in Kedah, I think is another interesting place in Malaysia that is worth visiting too.

This group of friends of mine, who are in the age group of 50 and 60’s, have a lot of time on their hands. They are willing to spend their weekends, on Saturdays and Sundays, to visit places such as Kuantan, Ipoh, Johore Baru and so on.

The above group of people feels that the best way to sight see the entire country is to travel by bus. But they feel they should travel by bus only during daylight hours. They have come to a conclusion that to travel by express buses during the night, is extremely dangerous.

Most accidents which involve tour buses normally take place when it’s way past midnight. Very seldom do we hear of accidents happening during the daylight hours. As such, they feel that to travel by express buses or tour buses during the night is an emphatic “no-no” for them.

What seems to be the reason for the express buses being involved in so many accidents? It’s never a waste of time delving into it. Amongst some of the most likely reasons or factors why express buses seem to be involved in numerous accidents must surely be:-

1) Buses in poor physical condition.

As an instructor, and one who has to send his driving school vehicle for inspection by the Puspakom authorities once every 6 months, I have seen how trailers, school buses, tour and express buses being sent for inspection. Furthermore, most express and tour buses are normally new vehicles which are beautifully designed and physically they are in superb condition.

I believe that poor conditions of buses are definitely not a cause for buses being so rampantly involved in horrific accidents. It “physical” reasons do not seem to appear to be the cause for accidents, then there surely must be other reasons we should be looking into instead.

2) Poor discipline and ethics of our tour and express bus drivers.

This factor, I feel should be given prominent emphasis. The fact that foreigners feel that Malaysian drivers represents one of the worst drivers in the world, without a doubt lend weight that Malaysian bus drivers are perhaps not a very disciplined lot.

Unlike in other countries, especially in European nations like England, France, Germany and Australia for instance, where bus drivers are provided proper training and are coached specially by companies to handle buses, in our country, no such training exists.

Normally, an express bus driver is employed by a company here based on one’s experience and the number of years he has been in the field. I have yet to hear of any bus company that provides special training for its staff.

But Kontena Nasional and Shell are but some of the rare companies that do provide training for its drivers. Maybe, it is about time for large bus companies and concerns to start a programme to provide training for its fleet of bus drivers. And in doing so, hopefully the rate of accidents involving bus express will then decrease.

3) Speeding.

The government should limit the speed limit express buses are allowed to travel on our expressway and highways. Buses with 44 passengers are rather difficult to handle. Highways allow a speed of 90 km/h. Whereas, on expressways, the maximum speed limit permitted is 110 km/h.

The above speed is acceptable for day time travel. But at night, things are different. Vision becomes poor. Dangers tend to lurk at all corners other vehicles on the road tend to break down, causing bus drivers immense difficulties.

Accidents can easily happen especially during the night. As such, express and tour buses should adopt a much lower speed of travelling. I hold the opinion that the night speed a tour or express bus should be allowed to travel should be 70 km/h.

As they say in Bahasa Malaysia, “biar lambat asalkan selamat”. “Travel a little bit slower, as long as everyone is safe” should be the maxim that should be adopted..

4) Talking to passengers.

Express and tour bus drivers should refrain from holding conversations with passengers and also refrain from using handphones whilst they are driving.

My daughter, and my wife, recently returned from a holiday in Turkey. They told me, bus drivers there, make it a point not to engage in conversations with passengers while they are driving.

Bus drivers in Turkey, adhere to a strict speed limit too. Stern actions are taken against drivers who break the law. Furthermore, my daughter informs me, in Turkey, tour and chartered buses seldom move after night fall.

It is believed by the authorities that to travel during the night is dangerous. Buses are encouraged to travel only during the daylight hours.

Speaking about the use of handphones, authorities like the Road Transport Department and the police should impose heavy penalties on bus drivers who possess handphones whilst they are driving.

5 ) Lack of drivers.

There should be a minimum of 2 bus drivers for every express or tour buses. This requirement should be strictly enforced, especially during the night.

Long distance travels, say from Penang to Kuala Lumpur or from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore are more than 250 km. A driver tends to get tired driving such long distances. Ideally such long journeys should ideally have 2 drivers for each journey.

Besides drivers, a tour or express bus travelling such cross country runs, should stop half way for rests and refreshments.

In the 1970’s, I travelled rather extensively from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. Our buses, which normally leave the bus depot at Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur at 10.00 p.m. would make it a point to stop at Ipoh, Perak, at around midnight or 1.00 a.m.

Likewise, an express bus leaving the Sultan Abdul Halim terminal at Bukit Mertajam, at 10.00 p.m. would also make it a point to stop at Ipoh at around midnight or 1.00 a.m.

“Mid way stops” recommended for express buses at the times suggested above, tend to bring about a few benefits such as:-
i. Passengers and bus drivers would feel invigorated or “refreshed” as a result of stopping for a rest at half way houses as they are called.

ii. The approximately half an hour stop which the bus makes goes a long way in giving the engine a deserved rest. The same also to tyres as well.

What about the trailer which was carrying paper reels crashing into the express bus? How could a trailer crash into an express bus that has already met with an accident on the expressway? It is most perplexing!

It clearly indicates that the trailer driver has been driving rather carelessly. Crashing into an bus express that has already stalled on the road, tantamount to careless driving. Under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987, a driver can be charged rather severely.

It all clearly indicates that amongst today’s drivers of huge trailers and lorries, there are some who do not seem to be competent at all. They do not appear to be able to handle huge vehicles well. Crashing into another huge vehicle that has already got into an accident on our expressway or highway is something that should not have happened. The driver responsible for it should rightfully be banned.

Besides being incompetent, the trailer driver might have undergone tremendous strain of driving. In short, he was most probably extremely tired at the time he crashed into the back of the express bus. The trailer driver should undergo a medical test to determine if he has been on “drugs” or otherwise.

To date, the public is yet to know what exactly happened to the express bus which was involved in the tragic accident at KM 341.9 near Bidor, Perak. Maybe at a later stage, there may be more details regarding the above incident being given out to the public.

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What do drivers in England, New Zealand, Australia, India and Malaysia have in common? First of all, drivers in the above mentioned countries drive on the “left” hand side of the road. Therefore when a driver intends to overtake another vehicle, they overtake on the right.

Although one is ideally recommended to overtake on the right hand side, nevertheless, my driving instructor, who taught me driving way back in the early 1970’s, Mr. Tew Hock Lai, advised me that one can overtake on the “left”, when necessary.

Mr. Tew regularly told me, that a driver is allowed to overtake on the left, when the vehicle in front has stopped or has indicated his or her intention of turning to the right. In such a situation, Mr. Tew told me, driver is allowed to overtake on the left. But in doing so, extreme care and proper signals should be adopted.

However, all drivers should always try to follow the maxim of overtaking ideally on the “right”. To me, as an instructor, of more than 40 years of experience, to adhere to the belief that it is safer and less dangerous overtaking on the correct side, that is the right hand side is better.

To all drivers, I would like to advise, avoid overtaking on the left, if you possibly can. All that you possibly need is, be a little bit more patient, that’s all. Anyway, according to a popular saying, “Patience, infact, is a virtue.” The national language of our country, Bahasa Malaysia, reiterates “Kesabaran adalah separa iman.”

A reader of this blog very recently wrote in to this blog to request that an article be written on a few bad habits commonly adopted by Malaysian drivers of today. Amongst some of the mistakes or habits drivers of our country commonly commit must surely include “overtaking on the left”, “road hogging” on the fast lane of emergency, and believe it or not “crossing into chevrons”.

For those who are not too well versed with traffic regulations and rules, permit me to illustrate to you what “chevrons” are actually. Chevrons are linings on roads which separate two roads which meet. The V shaped white lines you find near traffic lights, while going up bridges and so forth, are actually intended for broken down vehicles, especially in busy areas, like Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Johore Bahru and Penang.

I still remember an incident I experienced while travelling out of Batang Kali town once, with a friend of mine, a young driver, aged around 27 years of age, who was unfortunately not too well versed with traffic rules and regulations. This young driver above, has in his haste, over taken another slow vehicle infront of him at a “chevron” area along the highway.

Unfortunately for us, a traffic officer, suddenly came out from amongst some bushes nearby, and flagged us down. My friend, who was driving then, turned around to me who was sitting next to him to inquire, “Have I done anything wrong?” As a lecturer for the “Highway Code” for new drivers, I immediately retorted, “Certainly, you have.”

To cut the long story short, no amount of appeals could prevent the good traffic officer issuing us a traffic summons that day. It was a costly lesson which we learnt that particular day.

I promised to the reader who requested that an article be penned on certain bad habits which many Malaysian drivers are guilty of, has finally led to this article being written. Therefore this article will specially emphasize upon 3 things, namely:-
1. Overtaking on the left
2. Road hogging especially along expressways
3. Is it right or wrong to cross into “chevron” areas

Before proceeding any further with this article, the Road Transport Ordinance 1987, which all drivers should be well versed with, spells out very clearly that, according Circular K. 5 RTR(LN) 166/59, a driver who overtakes on the left can be charged under section 119 (2) of the act. He or she can then be fined a sum of RM300 for it.

1) Overtaking on the left in the town areas.

As said much earlier, if you happen to be in a town area, whereby you are not travelling too fast, and should you encounter a vehicle or driver who has stopped infront and attempting to turn into the right lane, as a driver, you can adopt to stop behind the driver infront or choose to signal left, and slowly inch your way via the left lane, which is incidentally “overtaking on the left”. You have infact not committed an offence at all.

Therefore, overtaking on the left, in towns especially, albeit not encouraged at all, is an acceptable norm of driving, I would say. If such actions are adopted, I would deem it acceptable as long as it is done safely and carefully.

2) Overtaking on the left along highways going out of towns and major cities.

In Malaysia, highways or roads out of towns, follow a speed limit of 70 km/h. Should a driver be driving in such an area, under the speed normally followed is 70 km/h or even higher, to overtake on the left, I would say would be slightly more dangerous.

However, my opinion is that it can still be done. But, extreme care and precautions should be taken. Only if a driver is absolutely certain that it is safe to overtake on the left hand side, it is best that this manner of driving, that is overtaking on the left, should I feel not be adopted at all.

As they say, refrain from doing it rather than to regret an accident happening later. However, if you should decide to overtake on the left hand side, and you proceed on to cause an accident in doing so, section 119 (2) of the Road Transport Act 1987 or the Akta Pengangkutan Jalan (A.P.J) 1987 will go on to fault you for the offence and you will be slapped with a RM300 fine.

3) Overtaking along an expressway or highway.

Should overtaking on the left along expressway or highways be done or encouraged? Be it be known that along such highways as described above, the maximum speed limit there is 110 km/h. The left lane on such highways or expressways, such as the East-West Highway, the Karak Highway and the North-South Highway to Ipoh for instance, is actually the “road shoulder” or the “slow lane” itself.

At speed of over 110 km/h or more, overtaking via the left lane, is very dangerous and is never to be encouraged at all!

Furthermore, there might be stranded or broken down vehicles left on the slow lane, which is on the left of the expressway. At night especially, where visibility is extremely bad, accidents can likely happen.

So therefore, it is my personal opinion, that drivers, be it from our country, Malaysia, or for that matter anywhere else the world over, should refrain from overtaking on the left side of expressways and highways.

I would implore you as drivers, for your own good and safety of you and your family, not to overtake on the left! Stick to overtaking on the right, which is incidentally the correct way to overtake though. As to whether you choose to follow my advice or otherwise is actually solely up to you and you alone! Do think about it!

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