LETTERS: I refer to the NST report today on the issue of a special task force to review heavy vehicles safety rules.
The Alliance for a Safe Community strongly supports the establishment of a special task force to review and address the safety issues associated with heavy vehicles on our roads.
This initiative is both timely and necessary to tackle the growing number of road accidents and fatalities involving heavy vehicles.
Heavy vehicles, including container trucks, tankers, and construction equipment, are vital to our economy.
However, their presence on the roads also poses significant safety risks when proper measures are not in place.
Among the serious issues affecting road safety include:
* Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Many heavy vehicles operate with worn-out brakes, defective tires, and faulty lighting systems.
Regular maintenance and inspection of these vehicles are crucial to prevent mechanical failures that can lead to accidents.
* Driver Fatigue and Recklessness: Heavy vehicle drivers often face long working hours and tight delivery schedules, leading to fatigue and impaired judgment.
Reckless driving, such as speeding, abrupt lane changes, and tailgating, further endangers other road users.
* Overloading: Overloading not only damages road infrastructure but also compromises the stability and braking efficiency of heavy vehicles, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
* Inadequate Training and Licensing: Some drivers lack proper training or hold licenses obtained without rigorous testing.
Inadequate training in handling large vehicles under various road conditions poses a significant risk.
*Enforcement Gaps: While existing regulations on heavy vehicles are comprehensive, enforcement is inconsistent. Existing laws can be amended if there are weaknesses .
Corruption, insufficient monitoring, and lack of technology use, such as weigh-in-motion systems, weaken compliance with safety standards.
* Poor Road Design: Narrow roads, poorly designed intersections, and inadequate signage exacerbate the risks of accidents involving heavy vehicles. This is especially so in urban areas and construction zones.
Thus, the special task force should take a holistic approach by:
1. Mandating periodic inspections of heavy vehicles and integrating automated monitoring systems.
2. Strengthening enforcement mechanisms, including heavier penalties for safety violations.
3. Enhancing driver training programmes to meet international standards.
4.Improving infrastructure to accommodate heavy vehicle traffic safely.
5. Introducing electronic logbooks to monitor driver hours and prevent fatigue-related incidents.
6. Collaborating with stakeholders, including transport companies, unions, and enforcement agencies, to ensure a shared commitment to road safety.
The lives lost due to heavy vehicle accidents are not just statistics — they are families torn apart and communities left grieving.
We must act now to prioritise the safety of all road users and prevent further tragedies. The proposed task force is a step in the right direction and it must seek the right answers to the safety issues concerned.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Chairman
Alliance For A Safe Community
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times