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New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Stricter vehicle inspections not enough without enforcement, say experts
KUALA LUMPUR: Stricter inspection procedures for heavy vehicles alone will not resolve Malaysia's road safety issues without consistent and transparent enforcement. This was emphasised by Associate Professor Dr Law Teik Hua, head of the Road Safety Research Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia. "Enforcement is too often inconsistent or reactive, typically only after incidents, which weakens its deterrent effect. "Tighter regulations, like deeper tire tread and sideboards, work only if they are regularly and randomly inspected," he said when contacted by the "New Straits Times". Law said that enforcement agencies must be equipped with personnel and technology to conduct inspections, especially at highway entries and exits, as well as industrial zones. "Consistent follow-through and appropriate penalties are crucial. "Severe sanctions, such as licence suspension or vehicle impoundment, must be implemented for non-compliance. However, Law said that without transparent, data-driven enforcement, stricter regulations may become merely symbolic. He also highlighted the need to address systemic issues by placing greater responsibility on companies that operate heavy vehicles. "Employers often take shortcuts, which put pressure on drivers to meet tight delivery deadlines, operate poorly maintained vehicles or skip breaks. "Companies must be held accountable for their hiring practices, safety training and vehicle maintenance," he added, calling for stronger corporate responsibility. Law said that safety reforms may not bear fruit unless fleet operators and logistics firms are held responsible. Commenting on the recent crash in Sungai Buloh, where a lorry collided with a motorcycle and roadside stalls, Law said the incident highlights safety concerns, particularly the dangers heavy vehicles pose in pedestrian-heavy zones. He praised the emergency response but stressed the importance of improved traffic management, stricter zoning for heavy vehicles, safer roadside setups and smarter urban planning to protect road users. Professor Wong Shaw Voon, chairman of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), agreed with Law, emphasising that road safety requires involvement not just from the government, but also from industry players and the public. "If regulations are not enforced, it's as good as having none at all." Wong said that companies are ultimately responsible for managing drivers, vehicles and transport schedules. "Have companies truly done their best to adopt safer operating standards? Some may claim ignorance, while others prefer not to know. "Often, companies only learn the hard way — when one of their vehicles is involved in a crash that results in fatalities. "Yet, established standards like ISO 39001 (Road Traffic Safety Management System) already exist. "Why wait to learn from a bad experience when the standard is already available?" Wong said there is a need for government mechanisms to ensure companies conduct safe operations, while denying the perception that deadly accidents have no impact on a business' bottom line. "The impact (of an accident) is not business as usual. "If a company is involved in a fatal crash, it risks losing the trust and business of its customers "Companies must understand this. While a tragedy may not happen today, operating unsafely will eventually come at a cost." Yesterday, Datuk Aedly Fadly Ramli, director-general of the Road Transport Department, announced stricter inspection procedures for heavy vehicles. These include requirements for increased tyre tread depth and sideboards that align with each vehicle's permit and technical specifications.
The Star
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Accidents up in Raya rush this year
PETALING JAYA: More than 15,000 road accidents and 123 deaths were recorded during the Hari Raya travel period this month, according to statistics from Bukit Aman's Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department. This marked a 3.8% increase in the total number of road accidents between March 29 and April 6 (15,246) compared to the Hari Raya travel period between April 6 and April 14 last year (14,674). CLICK TO ENLARGE As for the number of deaths related to road accidents, the data showed a 29.3% decline. A total of 123 people lost their lives in road accidents between March 29 and April 6 this year compared to 174 during the travel period last year. For the travel period this year, March 29 recorded the highest number of road accidents at 2,040 while the highest number of fatalities was on March 30 (20). The highest number of road accidents during Hari Raya celebrations last year was on April 6 (2,156), while the highest number of deaths was on April 10 (35). Hari Raya celebrations fell on March 31 this year and April 10 last year. Op Selamat statistics showed a similar trend in which the 2024 operations, which lasted between April 8 to April 13, recorded 8,909 accidents and 111 fatalities. For Op Selamat 2025, which took place between March 29 and April 3, a total of 9,859 road accidents and 85 fatalities were recorded. This marked a 10.66% increase in the number of accidents and a 23.42% decline in related fatalities. Road safety expert Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said the drop in road fatalities suggests that emergency response times, vehicle safety standard and possibly even driving behaviour had improved. 'However, the fact that overall accidents increased, albeit slightly, reminds us that the underlying risk on our roads remains high. 'Every crash, regardless of severity, carries emotional, physical and financial consequences. 'The volume of incidents still points to systemic road safety challenges,' said Law, who heads the Road Safety Research Centre at the Engineering Faculty of Universiti Putra Malaysia. He said there should be efforts such as strengthening enforcement during peak travel periods, enhancing driver education about fatigue and behaviours like speeding, and ensuring public transport alternatives are safe and accessible. 'Infrastructure improvements like clear road signage, better lighting and speed-calming measures can also help mitigate crash likelihood,' he said. Law said real-time traffic data, smart traffic management systems and dashcam artificial intelligence analytics could help identify accident-prone zones and driver behaviour. 'Public campaigns should evolve from awareness to behavior change, leveraging psychology and targeted communication to truly influence drivers,' he said. Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon urged motorists to drive safely at all times. 'We shouldn't practise safe behaviour only when we know enforcement officers are watching. 'This is about our own lives, and also that of our loved ones who are with us in the vehicle,' said Wong. 'Enforcement authorities are doing their best to make the roads a safer place but every road user plays a role towards achieving this as well,' he added.
