Latest news with #KulanthayanKCMani
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
False sense of safety fuels risky driving among youths
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian youths' risky driving habits stem from a false sense of invincibility and peer pressure, experts warn, and call for urgent multi-pronged action to address the worsening road safety crisis. Universiti Putra Malaysia's head of the Putra Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion unit, Prof Dr Kulanthayan KC Mani, said many young drivers believe they are immune to harm and assume road safety messages do not apply to them. 'They often think accidents happen to others, not themselves. Without experiencing a serious crash or injury, many don't feel the need to change their behaviour. That's the real challenge.' While this mindset is often linked to youths, Kulanthayan observed it is widespread among road users and only shifts after traumatic incidents. 'Young people tend to be overconfident and drawn to thrills. Peer influence plays a huge role. Even those who wouldn't usually take risks may feel pressured to drive dangerously just to fit in or appear 'cool'.' These concerns follow troubling figures. According to 2023 data from the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, there were 598,635 road crashes nationwide, including 28,511 minor collisions. Kulanthayan emphasised that education alone is not enough. 'Education delivers long-term change, but enforcement brings immediate – though often short-lived – results. What we need is a mix of education, consistent enforcement and engineering solutions such as safer road designs and clearer signage.' He acknowledged government efforts to introduce road safety education from preschool to Form 4 but warned that successful implementation is crucial. 'If the programme is only partially delivered, we won't see the full benefits. Like medicine, the dosage matters.' Head of the university's Road Safety Research Centre Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said current driver training focuses too heavily on technical skills and not enough on shaping proper attitudes and risk awareness. 'Young drivers often hit the road feeling untouchable, without fully grasping the real-world dangers behind the wheel.' Law added that some road designs can inadvertently encourage reckless behaviour. 'Wide, straight roads with minimal enforcement create conditions that promote speeding. Urban planning must consider how road layouts affect driver behaviour.' To reduce youth-related crashes, he suggested Malaysia adopt proven international models such as the graduated licensing systems used in Sweden and Australia. 'These systems combine phased licensing with programmes that expose young drivers to the real consequences of crashes. It helps curb overconfidence and risk-taking.' Adding a psychological perspective, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's senior psychology officer Dr Zulfikar Ahmad said adolescents are naturally inclined towards risk. 'Youngsters crave intense, novel experiences. They may know the risks, but the thrill often outweighs caution.' He explained this stems from brain development. 'The prefrontal cortex – which controls decision-making and impulse regulation – doesn't fully mature until the mid-20s, while the limbic system, which processes emotion and reward, is highly active.' Social influences also fuel risky behaviour. 'Peer pressure and social media have major impacts. In subcultures like mat rempit, dangerous stunts are status symbols. Even when aware of the risks, many youths downplay or ignore them in pursuit of short-term approval.' To address this, Zulfikar called for early and sustained psychological and educational intervention. 'Road safety education should begin in kindergarten and continue throughout school years. It's vital to also engage young people through social media and digital platforms, where they spend most of their time.' He stressed the need for continuous psychoeducation across all age groups, using every digital tool available to deliver road safety messages that resonate.
New Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Experts urge tougher enforcement against errant lorry drivers, companies
KUALA LUMPUR: Enforcement agencies must intensify actions against errant lorry drivers and their employers to serve as a strong deterrent against road law violations, said experts. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Putra Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Unit head, Professor Dr Kulanthayan KC Mani, said heightened enforcement would increase the perceived risk of being caught. "This will increase the likelihood of being apprehended and fined for any traffic offence. Once we send that signal and create that perception, it will act as a significant deterrent," he said. He added that if the number of violations does not decline despite increased enforcement, the problem may lie with the existing laws and their inadequate penalties. However, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research chairman Professor Wong Shaw Voon said the provisions under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 are already stringent enough to deter companies. Failure to ensure that employees work in a safe environment may result in a RM500,000 fine or a prison term not exceeding two years, or both, as stipulated under Section 19 of the Act. Nevertheless, both experts agreed that enforcement alone would not suffice to reduce road accidents. Companies must also take proactive measures to ensure safety. "Enforcement is essential. But we cannot sustain high enforcement rates without turning the country into a police state. "Companies have a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for their employees," Wong said. Kulanthayan suggested implementing mechanisms to prevent lorries from exceeding load limits. "This can be done manually, electronically, or through alert systems similar to those used in lifts, which notify users when weight limits are exceeded," he said. Wong added that companies also have a duty to ensure that their drivers are fit for work before assigning any tasks. However, he cautioned that lorry drivers have the right to refuse work if they are unfit for duty and advised them to work for companies that comply with safety standards. He also proposed the installation of dashboard cameras (dashcams) in lorries to monitor driver behaviour and improve safety practices. "This is how businesses can enhance operational efficiency. "You can review incidents and learn how to prevent similar occurrences, but such initiatives must come from the companies themselves as it would be challenging to regulate this," he said. On Tuesday, nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel were killed in a crash along Jalan Chikus–Sungai Lampam in Teluk Intan. Authorities believe that the lorry involved in the crash experienced a steering malfunction. The driver, who has a criminal record, has been arrested. Transport Minister Anthony Loke has announced the formation of a special task force to investigate the incident and recommend safety improvements.
Malay Mail
11-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Reducing speed limit to 30km/h in school zones can save lives, says road safety expert
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 — The government's decision to gazette the speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour (30 km/h) in school zones is a timely measure to protect lives, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and global efforts to enhance road safety. Executive Director of Safe Kids Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Professor Dr Kulanthayan K.C. Mani said that reducing vehicle speed even by one kilometre per hour can reduce the risk of death by five per cent. 'If the average speed is reduced by five per cent, the risk of fatal accidents can be reduced by up to 30 per cent,' he told Bernama in conjunction with the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week (UNGRSW), from May 12 to 18, themed Walking and Cycling Safe. According to him, the impact of collision on human is highest at speeds exceeding 30 km/h because the human body can only absorb impact energy maximally at that limit. 'Exceeding 30 km/h significantly raises the risk of death,' he said. Statistics in 2023 showed that Malaysia recorded nearly 600,000 accident cases and 6,473 deaths, equivalent to one accident every 53 seconds and one death every 80 minutes and of the total, more than 67 per cent of the victims involved motorcyclists and passengers. Kulanthayan clearly stated that this speed limit measure needs to be supported with the provision of safe infrastructure such as 30km/h signboards, road bumps, pedestrian crossings, bicycle lanes, bus stop areas, and the use of reflective clothing as well as bicycle helmets for children. He also emphasized the importance of cultivating a culture of zero summonses, zero accidents, and zero road deaths through the involvement of all parties — government, industry, community, insurance companies, and automotive. 'The use of technology such as monitoring cameras, electronic cameras, and dashcams also needs to be expanded to enhance enforcement and monitoring on the roads,' he said. Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook was reported to have said that the government will gazette a speed limit of 30 km/h in all school zones following an average of 70 deaths recorded each year in school areas, making this effort an urgent necessity. According to the WHO, a speed limit of 30 km/h in populated areas, schools, and pedestrian zones has been scientifically proven to reduce the risk of death and serious injury, as well as supporting safer walking and cycling. This World Road Safety Week also urged UN member countries to expand this initiative in an effort to achieve the target of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by year 2030. — Bernama
