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Showing posts with label Road Safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Road Safety. Show all posts

Sunday 14 April 2024

Getting it right on the road

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Potentially lifesaving: Being aware of emergency phones along highways and Rest and Service areas can contribute to making journeys safer. — ART CHEN/The Star

PETALING JAYA: With millions travelling on the highways during the festive Hari Raya season, paying attention to the road safety features and tips could help reduce accidents while also saving lives, say road safety experts.

The advice comes as a total of 2,929 road accidents and 53 deaths were recorded in just a day on the eve and first day of Raya on April 9 and 10 respectively.

Road safety expert Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua from Universiti Putra Malaysia said most drivers tend to overlook the important road safety features along the major highways.

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“Educating the public about road safety features along highways is crucial, particularly with the expected increase in traffic during the Raya festive period.

“Highlighting lesser-known road safety features, such as emergency phones at intervals along the highway and strategically located Rest and Service Areas (RSA), are essential for enhancing driver awareness and promoting safer journeys,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Other common safety features usually taken for granted by drivers are the lane markings, reflective studs and the Variable Message Signs (VMS) which are strategically located along the highways.

“The VMS provide real-time updates on traffic conditions, accidents and road closures, enabling drivers to make informed decisions and adjust their routes accordingly to avoid potential hazards,” he said.

The lane markings and reflective studs serve as visual cues, especially during night time or bad weather, by helping drivers stay within their lanes while maintaining safe distances from other vehicles, Law added.

While there are currently traffic surveillance cameras to help monitor traffic, he suggested the use of AI-powered analytics and predictive modelling as tools to further enhance road safety along the highways.

Law noted that ultimately, it is raising public awareness among drivers on such road safety features which is crucial.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) expects over two million vehicles to be on major highways during the Raya holidays during peak on April 5, 6, 9, 12, 13 and 14 which is a 15% increase from the usual 1.82 million daily traffic volume.

Highway concessionaire Anih Bhd expects some 1.9 million vehicles to use the KL-Karak (KLK) Expressway and about 882,000 travelling on the East Coast Expressway Phase 1 (LPT1) concessionaire during the festive period.

Some 2.4 million vehicles are expected to travel in and out of Penang over the six-day Raya festive period starting from April 8.

Malaysian Road and Transportation Safety Association president MD Hairolazaman Muhamed Nor said drivers and motorcyclists should be aware of broken down or parked vehicles on emergency lanes or road shoulders on highways.

“Motorists should be on the lookout for such stationary vehicles on highways.

“The driver and passengers of the stalled vehicles should step out quickly and take shelter at a safe spot.

“Preferably, they should be behind the steel safety barriers or railings before seeking help,” he said.

Hairolazaman also said that planning one’s journey could help ease difficulties that might arise during emergencies while on the highway.

Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon said that some cars nowadays have “eCall” feature which their owners may not be aware of.

“The eCall feature will automatically contact emergency responders in the event of a serious road accident including providing GPS coordinates to emergency services,” he said when contacted.

He added that eCall system would likely become a common added safety feature in cars which could prove helpful in the event of a serious crash.

He also advised drivers of stalled vehicles to move their vehicles to a safe area and stay behind the crash barriers while waiting for help to come.

“Some drivers think they will be safer waiting in their stalled vehicles but it is more dangerous,” he added.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd senior general manager of operations Mohd Yusuf Abd Aziz advised motorists to stay updated on traffic flow and plan their travel schedule using the PLUS smartphone application.

“Travel duration would be longer due during the peak periods due to increased traffic.

“Ensure your vehicles are roadworthy for the travel and pull over at rest areas for a break after every two hours of driving,” added Mohd Yusuf.

Road Safety Experts Association and Safety Driving Centre advisor Datuk Suret Singh said motorcyclists, especially those on smaller machines, and drivers of heavy vehicles such as buses and lorries, should keep to the left lane or slow lane at all times while on the highway.

“Motorcyclists riding at night should don luminous safety vests to stay visible to other motorists or they will be courting disaster,” the former Miros chairman added.

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Sunday 17 April 2022

Dashcam to the rescue: Scammers’ hopes of a quick buck dashed

 

North Klang district police are investigating a video showing a man purposely throwing himself onto a car’s windshield, which has gone viral. 

 

PETALING JAYA: A woman driver crashes into a group of mat lajak cyclists, and another driver is shocked when a pedestrian throws himself onto his car windscreen, smashing it.

The woman has been jailed but the driver of the other car managed to escape from a potential scam.

The reason – the second driver had a dashcam.

Dashcams have suddenly become a hot topic again as the debate continues over whether the woman deserves to be jailed or not. A video of the windscreen smashing scam has also gone viral.

ALSO READ:  No problems with dashcams as long as safety concerns met, says Transport Ministry

Car salespersons and auto accessory dealers have confirmed the increasing demand for dashcams, adding that customers choose to install them for safety reasons.

Salesman Foong Wen Sian said that in recent years, 60% to 70% of customers have chosen to install dashcams when buying their cars. “Customers ask if our vehicles are equipped with a dashcam and also request for it to be installed,” he said.

Foong said dashcams are important especially when accidents or thefts occur in areas without CCTVs.

“With dashcams, the recording can be used as evidence so police can take action,” he said.

Another car salesman, Annison Francis, said dashcams are important for women to defend themselves in cases of unwanted incidents on the road.

Dashcam salesperson Willie Cheng said there was a 30% increase for the product in the past year.

“More motorists are now educated about its importance,” said Cheng.

ALSO READ: Dashcam okay if it does not affect vehicle’s safety

Businessman Jason Wong, 70, said he was planning to install a dashcam for both the front and rear sides of his car.

“There are many drivers with bad driving habits nowadays so having a dashcam gives me evidence in case of any accident,” he said, adding that it could also avoid potential arguments.

Fitness instructor Wayne Wong Zhi Herng, 30, said the recent ruling in the mat lajak case – which saw clerk Sam Ke Ting jailed for six years – prompted him to install a dashcam.

“We can never be too sure of what can happen on the road so a dashcam comes in handy in case of any misunderstanding,” he said.

Casey, 29, an accountant, said he installed a dashcam due to concerns about scams and road rage.

“I fear cases where people intentionally get hit by vehicles and then claim compensation.

“Having a dashcam will give us evidence to better explain the situation to the authorities,” he said.

A dashcam video has gone viral showing a man throwing himself onto an oncoming vehicle, leaving the windscreen smashed.

A group of people then suddenly appeared and seemed to surround the driver.

When driver told them to wait for police as he had dashcam footage, the group, including the “accident victim” quickly dispersed.

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'Mat lajak' modified bicycles-car accident case: Saleswoman/clerk gets six years' jail, fined RM6,000, no bail, appeal rejected although she had been acquitted twice before by the Magistrate’s Court.

 

Thursday 14 April 2022

Mat lajak' modified bicycles-car accident case: Saleswoman/clerk gets six years' jail, fined RM6,000, no bail, appeal rejected although she had been acquitted twice before by the Magistrate’s Court.

Tragedi basikal lajak, ibu bapa perlu dibawa ke muka ... - FMT


JOHOR BARU: A woman who drove her car into eight teenagers on modified bicycles on a dark street here has been sentenced to six years in jail and sent straight to prison – although she had been acquitted twice before by the Magistrate’s Court.

Following an appeal by the prosecution, the High Court here ruled yesterday that the lower court had erred in accepting Sam Ke Ting’s defence.

It said that not knowing there would be basikal lajak activity during the time of the incident could not be used by Sam as an excuse to drive dangerously, which resulted in the death of the teens.

High Court judge Justice Abu Bakar Katar sentenced the 27-year-old clerk to six years’ jail and a fine of RM6,000 for reckless driving which resulted in the deaths in Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, Johor Baru, at 3.20am on Feb 18, 2017.

Sam was ordered to serve another six months in prison if she did not pay the fine.

She was also disqualified from driving for three years, effective immediately after she completes her prison sentence.

Sam was accompanied by a female friend yesterday and did not show any emotion when the judge handed down the sentence.

After the sentencing, she was immediately handcuffed and taken by a female police officer to the lockup.

Justice Abu Bakar refused to grant a stay of execution of the conviction and sentence on Sam before an appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Sam had been acquitted twice by the Magistrate’s Court before this.

The first time, on Oct 28, 2019, the Johor Baru Magistrate’s Court acquitted and discharged her of the charge at the end of the prosecution’s case without calling for her defence.

However, the prosecution appealed against that decision and the Johor Baru High Court then ordered Sam to enter her defence on Feb 18 last year.

She was again freed on Oct 10 last year when her defence was accepted.

The High Court, however, held yesterday that the prosecution had proved a prima facie case against her and set aside the magistrate’s decision.

Justice Abu Bakar ruled that the magistrate had erred in accepting Sam’s defence.

“In her defence, she stated that she did not see the group of cyclists at the scene of incident and there was another vehicle that hit them and drove off.

“This version was never raised by the respondent (Sam) during the prosecution’s case.

“The Magistrate’s Court made a mistake when it accepted her defence of not knowing there would be basikal lajak activity at the time as an excuse to drive dangerously, which resulted in the victims’ deaths.

“She should have driven her car vigilantly instead of driving fast and causing the incident and should have realised that the lighting in the area was not bright at around 3.20am,” he said.

Justice Abu Bakar added that with visibility limited, the respondent should have realised there was a risk if she drove her car at more than the speed limit, which was 50km per hour.

He said Sam failed to raise any doubts while the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“With this, the High Court sets aside the earlier decision to acquit and discharge the respondent and find her guilty under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act,” he ruled.

Lawyer Muhammad Faizal Mokhtar asked for a stay of execution of the conviction and sentence on Sam as they would be appealing to the Court of Appeal but the judge rejected the request.

Johor prosecution director Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Abd Rahman and deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali prosecuted.

The eight cyclists who died were Mohamad Azrie Danish Zulkefli, 14; Muhamad Shahrul Izzwan Azzuraimie, 14; Muhammad Firdauz Danish Mohd Azhar, 16; Fauzan Halmijan, 13; Mohamad Azhar Amir, 16; Muhammad Harith Iskandar Abdullah, 14; Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Marudin, 14; and Haizad Kasrin, 16.

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