Reducing speed limit not the solution

5 October 2006

Roads choked with vehicles

The festive season is around the corner and so is our fear of the tragedies on our roads. Every year hundreds of lives are lost in fatal road accidents throughout the country during every festive season. Soon the OPS SIKAP XI will be launched in an attempt to reduce the alarming rate of accidents on our roads.

The police want to reduce the speed limits for federal and state roads for the coming festive season of Deepavalli and Hari Raya. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan says this is to reduce the road accidents and the fatalities associated with it. Since its announcement there have been number of opinions expressed by various quarters.

Will reducing the speed limit on such roads by 10km/hr effectively reduce the road fatalities during this festive season? I do not deny that speed contributes to accidents but it is not the only cause as there are a number of other causes that are more important. I do not see how it can reduce the fatal accidents when speed is not the main cause of these mishaps.

The two main causes of fatal accidents are firstly an exceptionally high number of cars and motorcycles on the roads and secondly the inconsiderate and selfish attitude of our motorists.
With the present volume of traffic,cars, buses, lorries, other huge vehicles and motor cycles, coking our roads, especially the trunk roads, we would need supernatural powers to avoid accidents. There is simply too many vehicles on the roads resulting in chaos especially during peak hours. Whatever measures we take will not be effective with the huge volume of traffic suffocating our roads.

Some of these vehicles are so old that they are not at all roadworthy. They too are plying our roads at fantastic speeds. The motor cyclists zigzag between cars and lorries posing great danger not only to themselves but to other innocent road users as well.

The inconsiderate and selfish attitude of Malaysians in general is reflected by the high number of unhealthy incidents on the roads. There are blatant disregard traffic laws and those who abuse them often go scot-free while a careful law abiding driver, who occasionally exceed the speed limit on a clear stretch of the road, is quickly pounced upon by the enforcing authorities and slapped with a heavy fine.

To Malaysians life has become so materialistic that even roads accidents are also being commercialized. Every accident, even those fatal ones, are business opportunities for many, the tow truck operators, insurance agents, motor workshops,medical treatment providers, legal agents and even hearse operators. Injuries and death seem to be the least concern.

We have to take drastic measures to educate the public to change the mindset and attitude towards life. At the same time genuine efforts must be made to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. It is worthwhile considering separate lanes for motor cyclists wherever possible.

These may be formidable tasks but we must start now, otherwise many more lives will continue to be lost on our roads, the Malaysia’s killing fields.

Dr.ChrisAnthony