Systemic reforms needed to curb fatigue-related crashes, say road experts

New Straits Times

a day ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The recent accident involving a Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam (Pasti) tour bus, believed to have been caused by driver fatigue, has reignited calls for comprehensive regulatory reform.
Road safety experts say the absence of a structured, science-based system underscores the urgent need for reforms modelled on international best practices to prevent further tragedies on Malaysian roads.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Associate Professor Dr Law Teik Hua said Malaysia needs a structured system to regulate drivers' working hours, similar to flight duty time limitations enforced in the aviation industry.
Citing examples from Australia and European Union (EU) countries, he said such systems have proven effective in reducing fatigue-related accidents.
"The current rules requiring a second driver for trips over 300km and limiting continuous driving to four hours are a step in the right direction, but they do not go far enough to mitigate cumulative fatigue.
"A more comprehensive system would include maximum daily and weekly driving hours, mandatory breaks between shifts, and special allowances for night driving.
"These measures have reduced fatigue-related accidents in countries like Australia and those in the EU," he told the New Straits Times.
He added that it is timely for Malaysia to adopt electronic monitoring systems to replace traditional logbooks for managing driver fatigue in the commercial transport sector.
Manual logbooks, he noted, are prone to human error and manipulation, making them less effective in preventing fatigue-related incidents.
"Such systems could be integrated with enforcement databases, enabling authorities to detect violations in real time.
"Some advanced systems even feature driver fatigue monitoring using facial recognition or steering pattern analysis, though these may require higher investment," he said.
On Saturday, three Pasti preschoolers and a teacher sustained minor injuries when their tour bus skidded and crashed into a tree near Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Police said preliminary investigations showed the 44-year-old driver had dozed off and was sleep-deprived at the time of the incident.
The driver is currently under a two-day remand to assist in investigations under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving, which carries a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment and a fine of between RM5,000 and RM15,000.
Former SPAD group operations head of policy and planning, Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, said the government should introduce a legally enforceable system to regulate drivers' working hours and rest periods, as the absence of such regulations continues to put passengers and road users at risk.
"Malaysia could move towards a structured, legally mandated system that governs how long bus drivers can work and how much rest they must take.
"This would mirror the aviation sector's approach, where pilot fatigue is taken seriously and regulated to protect passengers and the public.
"Countries in the EU, Australia, and the United States have long-standing frameworks setting maximum daily and weekly driving limits."
Wan Agyl said that while current guidelines requiring rest stops and backup drivers for long-haul routes are a good start, they fall short of meaningfully reducing driver fatigue without enforceable standards.
He added that digital monitoring systems such as electronic logging devices and telematics are essential to ensuring compliance.
"The government should mandate the use of electronic logging devices in all public buses, starting with high-risk sectors like long-distance express, school, and tourism services.
"These devices must be standardised and integrated into a centralised system overseen by the Land Public Transport Agency or an equivalent authority," he said.