After tragic UPSI bus crash, Loke says speed limiters could soon be mandatory for heavy vehicles
Loke said the government is committed to protect road users, especially from the risks posed by reckless drivers and heavy vehicles that fail to meet safety standards. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR (June 10): The government is drafting a policy that includes the mandatory use of speed limiters for heavy vehicles, as part of efforts to enhance road safety.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the policy is being thoroughly reviewed to ensure there are no loopholes or opportunities for manipulation once implemented.
'The government will not relent in strengthening road safety measures.
'We are committed to protecting road users, especially from the risks posed by reckless drivers and heavy vehicles that fail to meet safety standards,' he said in a Facebook post.
His statement comes in the wake of a tragic accident yesterday that claimed the lives of 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).
A chartered bus travelling from Jertih, Terengganu to Tanjung Malim, Perak overturned after colliding with a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik.
The crash also left 33 others injured, including the bus driver and attendant, as well as the driver and three passengers of the Perodua Alza involved in the incident. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
12 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Gerik bus tragedy deadliest crash in over 10 years
The fatal bus crash that killed 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris early this morning was the deadliest since August 2013. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The fatal bus crash that took the lives of 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in Gerik early this morning is the country's deadliest in over a decade. The crash, which is believed to have occurred between 12.30am and 1am, also involved a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) which was hit by the bus as it lost control and landed on its side along the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding. Another 27 students, the bus driver and his assistant, as well as the four people in the MPV were all injured. It is the worst crash since an express bus carrying 53 passengers, veered off the road and plunged into a 60-metre ravine off Jalan Genting, in Genting Highlands, on Aug 21, 2013, killing 37 people. That incident remains the most devastating bus tragedy in the nation's history, Bernama reported. Today's accident also brought to mind past tragedies, involving buses, that claimed numerous lives. – On Dec 20, 2010, a tour bus carrying Thai tourists lost control and went over the road divider to the opposite lane, and overturned into a ditch. The number of fatalities was 27, the majority of whom were foreign tourists, while several others sustained serious injuries. – On Aug 13, 2007, a total of 20 passengers were killed and nine others critically injured after the express bus they were travelling in lost control and overturned at Km229 on the North-South Expressway (PLUS) near Bukit Gantang, Perak. – On Dec 24, 2016, 14 people died and 16 were injured when an express bus plunged down a 10-metre slope at Km137.3 on the PLUS highway, northbound near the Pagoh rest and recreation area in Johor. – On Nov 23, 2003, 14 people died and 30 were injured when two buses collided at Km68 on the Lipis-Merapoh Road near the Pahang-Kelantan border. – On Oct 10, 2010, 12 people were killed and more than 40 were injured in a collision involving two buses, a van, and three cars at Km223 on the PLUS highway near the Simpang Ampat toll plaza in Alor Gajah, Melaka. – On Dec 26, 2009, 10 passengers were killed and two others injured, including one critically, when a double-decker bus lost control and collided with the road divider at Km272.8 on the PLUS highway, northbound, near the Ipoh Selatan Toll Plaza in Ipoh, Perak.
Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Dashcams, seatbelt sensors may be mandatory: Transport minister eyes stricter bus safety rules after deadly crash
GEORGE TOWN, June 10 — The Transport Ministry is looking into making dashboard cameras (dashcams) compulsory in heavy vehicles as part of efforts to boost road safety. Its Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said stricter enforcement measures, including onboard video cameras and safeguards for speed limiters, is needed as the devices have often been found to be tampered with, after regular checks have been made. 'Video cameras are not compulsory now but we need to look into it to improve safety,' he said at a press conference after officiating CruiseWorld Malaysia 2025 here today. Loke said while speed limiters are already mandatory in heavy vehicles, they are often tampered with after passing inspections. 'The device is installed in heavy vehicles to prevent them from speeding above the speed limit but what we are seeing is that the devices are often tampered with,' he said. He said operators would often reinstall or reset speed limiters just to clear the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom), then disable them later so the vehicles can exceed speed limits. He said more robust enforcement is needed to prevent such manipulation. Loke said the chartered bus that crashed and killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students did not have seatbelts for its passengers. 'However, in the East-West Highway incident, the bus was built in 2013, it is 12 years old, so it does not have seatbelts,' he said. He said seatbelts have been mandatory in buses built from 2020 onwards. 'We have laws that make it mandatory to install and wear seatbelts but the challenge is to ensure compliance,' he added. Loke said the ministry may consider requiring seatbelt sensors that prevent buses from moving unless passengers buckle up. 'In cars, if we don't wear the seatbelts, it will beep. So we can look into making it mandatory that the driver ensures all passengers put their seatbelts on or the bus will not move,' he said. He emphasised that safety laws are already in place, but the real issue is enforcement and compliance by operators and passengers. Loke said new regulations often face resistance from industry players who cite rising costs. 'We don't want that when we make something mandatory, the operators complain that they are affected, that the new measures are a burden and incurred additional costs,' he said. He said safety measures are not meant to burden but to save lives. 'So, for example, the wearing of seatbelts in new buses is already mandatory but there was lack of compliance by the operators and passengers,' he said. He said his ministry will review ways to improve enforcement and ensure existing safety rules are followed.
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Honda Malaysia recalls 87,490 vehicles over fuel pump issue
KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia today announced a product recall involving 87,490 units of Honda vehicles to replace their fuel pump as a precautionary measure. The affected models include Accord (year of model: 2013 - 2017), BR-V (2017 - 2018), City (2014 - 2019), City (Hybrid) (2018, 2019), Civic (2017, 2018), CR-V (2018 - 2020), HR-V (2015 - 2018), Jazz (2015 - 2020), Jazz (Hybrid) (2018) and Odyssey (2017 - 2019). "The fuel pump's impeller may swell after prolonged fuel immersion, potentially preventing the vehicle from starting or causing the engine to stall while driving," the company said in a statement. A total of 84,073 units of the Jazz, City, Civic, Accord, BR-V, HR-V, CR-V and Odyssey are involved. Meanwhile, a total of 3,417 units of the Civic and CR-V are affected by an issue with the high-pressure fuel pump, which may crack due to prolonged use and excessive stress, potentially leading to a fuel leak or giving rise to a fuel odour while driving or idling. The affected models involved in the product recall for high-pressure fuel pumps were Civic (2023, 2024) and CR-V (2024). Honda said all affected customers will be informed via notification letters, which will include details of the product recall. Customers can also check if their vehicle is affected in the recall via the Honda Touch application. Honda Malaysia urges all affected customers to contact any Honda authorised dealer to make an appointment upon receipt of the notification to replace the fuel pump, subject to parts availability. "The replacement of the affected fuel pump and high-pressure fuel pump is free of charge, and all costs related to this replacement activity will be borne by Honda Malaysia. The replacement stock will be available in stages," it added. – BERNAMA
