KUALA LUMPUR: Stricter penalties should be imposed on lorry drivers or transport companies found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of their vehicles, including offences related to overloading that lead to accidents.
Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Lorry Operators Association (SKLLOA) secretary-general Alvin Choong said stricter action could address the ongoing issues that continue to tarnish the industry's reputation.
"What is truly important is the enforcement of strict and severe penalties against irresponsible lorry drivers and operators. Innocent lives are lost due to negligence and greed, as they overload their lorries. This is one of the main causes of brake system failure, tyre issues, and mechanical damage," he told Buletin TV3.
He said that there are lorry operators who deliberately ignore the standard operating procedures (SOP) and intentionally overload their vehicles. As such, he said, stricter enforcement measures are necessary to ensure the safety of other road users.
"Some lorry operators are forced to overload due to intense competition. According to the Road Transport Act 1987, if a lorry is overloaded, it should not be allowed to continue its journey. Instead, the excess load must be transferred to another lorry. If this is enforced, lorries will no longer carry excessive loads and create problems for other road users. However, this is not being done, even though the SOP and regulations have been in place since the Road Transport Act was introduced in 1987," he added.
Earlier today, police recorded the statement of the lorry driver involved in the five-vehicle crash that killed five people at KM204 of the North-South Expressway (Plus) northbound in Melaka on Monday night.
Alor Gajah police chief Superintendent Ashari Abu Samah said the statement of the 31-year-old driver was taken on the night of the incident to determine elements of negligence that resulted in one of the lorry's tyres being dislodged, resulting in the crash.