I REFER to your report, “Families mourn crash victims’ deaths” (NST, Jan 16). While I offer my sympathies and condolences to the families of the crash victims, I am disappointed at the lackadaisical attitude of enforcement agencies for not stopping lori hantu from plying roads.
These lorries do not have road tax and insurance and are supposed to be operating only in construction sites.
But, I have seen them on the Federal and Kesas highways, going at high speed, especially in the early and late evenings.
The drivers must have taken the lorries home and driven them back to work daily.
Now, who is going to be responsible or accountable for the deaths of the two children in Kajang?
I am upset that no action was taken to enforce the law before accidents happened. As usual, we are famous for taking action only after tragedies. These lorries are illegal, and as such, they should not be allowed on our roads.
This has been going on for decades, and only now has the Transport Ministry given orders to crack down on lori hantu and for its officers to check and monitor the lorries’ activities in Malaysia.
All private vehicles are often checked at roadblocks for expired road tax, insurance and driving licence, by the police or Road Transport Department officers.
However, lori hantu, though illegal, are free to move around without being checked by enforcement officers, since, according to the deputy transport minister, these lorries do not come under the jurisdiction of any department.
But then, why is the deputy minister give orders now for his officers to crack down on these lorries? This is ridiculous.
These lorries are not machinery; they are vehicles on wheels, moving on roads. Surely the police and RTD have the power to stop and get them off roads.
I feel that these illegal, heavy and powerful killer “ghost” vehicles should be legalised to cover those working in construction sites. Developers should be held responsible for any breach of the law.
In view of the many accidents involving heavy vehicles, the authorities should check these vehicles for their roadworthiness, the qualification of the drivers, their mental and physical fitness, their age and health.
In addition, I suggest the following:
PLUG loopholes in the law;
ONLY local drivers with
heavy-vehicle driver’s licence should be allowed to drive these vehicles;
THE lorries should be painted in a striking yellow colour with red stripes on all sides, so that they can be easily spotted by the authorities, especially if they are on highways;
HAVE more highway patrol outriders to monitor speeding, overweight and defective lorries carrying dangerous goods without regard to public safety and health; and
IMPOSE a deterrent jail sentence on negligent drivers and impound the lorries.
However, things will go back to square one if there are elements of corruption and if there is no concerted effort by the authorities. Remember, the lives of the people are in your hands.
n NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR, Petaling Jaya, Selangor