YOURSAY | ‘There are cars running traffic lights in front of cops without action being taken.’

Transport Ministry takes unpopular measures to ensure safety of the people

Anonymous_637684420: Thank you, Transport Minister Anthony Loke. I think you are doing a good job. But unfortunately, the cops and local councils like Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) are still lagging in the enforcement of traffic laws.

I suggest you take the Kuala Lumpur mayor as well as the chief of traffic police and go for an incognito walk. You will see the horror of traffic enforcement in KL and also on the highways.

Make a visit to the KL traffic office and see the number of traffic cops sitting on their motorcycles there. Aren’t they supposed to be on the roads to check on speeding motorists, those beating traffic lights, ignoring pedestrian safety, driving on emergency lanes, heavy vehicles on the roads during peak hours and the list goes on?

Until you get all of that sorted out, accidents are going to keep increasing. I expected a lot from the Federal Territory minister and KL MPs but they are a total disappointment.

I wish the next general election is tomorrow. I will campaign to get all KL MPs kicked out but I have a lot of respect for you.

Justiceisserved: Indeed, the basic rules on the roads are not being enforced. These days not only motorcyclists don't wait at traffic lights or at T-junctions, even cars are also doing it.

Our roads are becoming lawless and when you honk at these dangerous drivers who break the law, they have the gall to even stare back at you and show you their middle finger.

The days where I used to see traffic cops regularly patrolling our roads are gone and nowadays, this is a rarity.

Anonymous_cdb4fb5d: There is too much corruption in the enforcement agencies like the Road Transport Department (JPJ), DBKL, police, et cetera. They are not working these days, but they collect millions in salary.

I have seen cars running pedestrian crossing lights in front of traffic cops without action being taken.

Kamikasi: Please educate the people first. There are thousands who can’t afford child restraint systems (CRS). Some have more than five kids and live hand-to-mouth. When people are ready, they will do it willingly.

They are responsible for their children, not you. You only caution them with facts. This is the problem with the Pakatan Harapan government, always in a hurry without proper cushioning initiatives.

Anonymous 19811504508400: Good effort but CRS, wearing seat belts, et cetera, do not prevent accidents per se.

Try looking into driving skills, understanding of traffic laws and rules (written and unwritten) of driving, "on-the-road" attitude, good road designs and the provision of proper signage.

As for encouraging the use of public transport, this area requires vast improvements.

Anonymous_1550607211: @8400, I don't think the message is CRS is to prevent accidents but the use of it improves the chance of survival and reduces the likelihood of major impact-related injuries as a result of an accident or abrupt braking.

You are right about driving skills but as always, driving skills, and indeed driving culture, is really ‘local’ and there is very little the government or road traffic enforcement can do.

For example, I don't think Malaysians drive too aggressively when compared to say, Mumbai drivers or those from Saigon.

Seriously, even in the US where I have driven in the past, Californian drivers are really good at tailgating at 140 km/h and yet, when you drive likewise in the mid-West, you will likely get the finger or worse from local drivers.

What I am trying to say is, driving ethics and manners are really local. Better designed roads and traffic signage help but changing attitudes such as road courtesy will take time.

Rick Teo: Loke has totally lost the plot. Making new laws is not ensuring the safety of the people but merely encouraging more corruption. It gives the police and the JPJ an extra avenue to ask for duit kopi (bribes) for infringing the law.

We don’t need the government policing the behaviour of the rakyat and punishing them for not following what is supposed to be personal issues.

Laws concerning the wearing of safety belts and helmets should be left to the individual to decide. More laws will only allow for more corruption and give more burden to ordinary people.

This hopeless minister should concentrate on corruption in the Transport Ministry, where business owners have to pay bribes for the testing of their vehicles. When are we going to get rid of this menace?

Masalah Tosai: There are many uneducated comments here. Large families are exempted from installing child restraint seats for every child and the Transport Ministry also zero-rated the import duties and reduced the sales and services tax on child seats to five percent.

There will be an awareness and education campaign as a step towards inculcating child safety. This has nothing to do with motorcycle helmets, traffic lights, motorcycles on federal highways and so on.

Yes, enforcement will be key. But this is a good first step. Give the law a chance and don’t just condemn for the sake of it.

Dark Angel 2: Loke is the only minister that is seen to be doing something right most of the time.

The RM100 monthly travel pass is the best effort taken by him. The LRT service is now fully utilised to the maximum. If you pay for each trip, it can be very expensive. Thank you very much.

If you do not make it mandatory for the CRS, many will not bother. On several occasions, I have seen and was shocked by people holding their babies with one hand and driving their cars using the other hand.

One: The country has a long way to go in terms of understanding the importance of road safety. Many are still not wearing seatbelts and helmets.

Just drive through Kampung Baru in the middle of KL or Kampung Penchala next to affluent Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), and you can see the seatbelt and helmet laws being ignored.

Lovemalaysia2: Just show footages of crash test dummies going through windscreens even at low speeds. That should stop all discussion amongst parents for or against CSR. It’s horrifying what happens to unrestrained children even in minor accidents.

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