On Christmas Eve, a horror highway traffic accident in which seven people died, including two babies, was caused when a tyre of a trailer lorry got detached, and hurtled towards a tour bus.

The bus driver tried to avoid the runaway tyre, but he ended up crashing into three other vehicles travelling in the opposite direction. 

The accident happened at KM 204 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) northbound, close to the vicinity of the Ayer Keroh rest and service area.

Extending his condolences to the victims of the tragedy, Transport Minister Anthony Loke then ordered an urgent probe into the crash. 

His predecessor, Wee Ka Siong, wrote on his Facebook page that he hoped a task force or a special team would be established to begin a thorough investigation to ensure that similar accidents will not recur.

Wee expressed a worrying trend involving lorries, and he quoted a recent special report by Sinar Harian whereby Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department Director Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said that 825 fatal accidents involving lorries in the first 10 months of 2024 had been recorded.

On average that would be about three accidents a day. 

Malaysians are familiar with driver attitude, unlicensed drivers, non-roadworthy and dangerous vehicles, arrogant and dangerous drivers, road rages, Mat Rempits, and badly maintained vehicles.

What happens to enforcement? 

We’ve heard of coach drivers driving under the influence of drugs. Drunk drivers who should not have been behind the wheel.

We’ve read about young children, some under 10 years old, taking their parents’ cars – sometimes with their knowledge – for a spin on the roads close to their homes.

There are thousands of teenagers who ride their motorbikes without a licence, and scores of thousands of Malaysians driving cars without a valid driving licence.

Where is the enforcement?

The Ayer Keroh accident has exposed the failures of the officials at Puspakom to properly conduct an inspection on a vehicle to see if it is road-worthy.

The allegation is that some companies will rent a lorry tyre for a day just to pass the vehicle inspection.

Others allege that officials are paid to close one eye and pass a vehicle as roadworthy, even when it is not.

All because of profit margins, companies are happy to cut corners.

All because people are greedy, corrupt officials are prepared to close an eye. 

These officials, if they are investigated and found to have acted with extreme irresponsibility, should be tried in court, and if found guilty, should be severely punished.

The consequences of their failure to discharge their duties mean that accidents have occurred, some with serious injuries, and sadly, deaths.

Probes are conducted after each serious accident. We’ve had several probes but did we learn anything from them?

The accidents keep recurring despite the various measures recommended after the last tragic accident.

When Malaysians balik kampung for Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali or any other major festival, many wonder if they will reach their destinations safely, if at all.

The same thought probably passes through the mind of any passenger on an express or tourist bus.

Any parent who waves goodbye to his child travelling on a school coach to take part in a field trip is probably on tenterhooks till the child phones to say he has arrived safely at his destination.

If the authorities are serious about restoring public confidence in road travel, they must change their work culture and focus on processes, relationship, management and leadership.

However, the accidents keep recurring despite the various measures recommended after the last tragic accident. 

Malaysians now wonder if any probe done is of any use.

We don’t want a quick fix. We want recommendations to be strictly implemented and enforced, with each transport agency doing its duty.

Some say, “It does not matter who the minister is, he will fail. The same thing will happen again and again.”

Malaysians are resigned to the fact that things won’t change no matter who the transport minister is.

Why are we subjected to the “drip-drip” release of new regulations after a serious accident when we also discover that previous recommendations were never fully implemented?

Some findings will be announced to the public with “corrective” actions. These corrective actions are short-lived.

The authorities often overlook one important consideration – driver-related safety and health matters.

Poor pay will force drivers to work several shifts without adequate rest, and this possibly contributes towards more crashes.

Sometimes, these drivers lack sleep and will take drugs to try to keep awake.

Is there an effective “complaints system” for the public to report transport problems and abuses?

We need zero tolerance to bad driving habits and we must inculcate good driving practices.

The deterrent should be a severe punishment comprising individual fines, penalty points, revoking of licences (personal and company), or incarceration.

Company directors could be fined and jailed for the failure of their employees/company to comply with the law. Companies could be made to cease operations. 

Time, money and good management are necessary before any improvements can take effect.

There will never be a 100 per cent safe transport system but much can be done to minimise the dangers through a comprehensive and tough education, training and development regime.

We don’t want a quick fix. We want recommendations to be strictly implemented and enforced, with each transport agency doing its duty.

Only strong political will and leadership can improve our transportation problems.

Didn’t we hope for each accident to be the last?

Sources: 

1. Malaysiakini: Loke orders probe into deadly three-vehicle crash in Ayer Keroh
2. Malaysiakini: Baby among 7 killed in three-vehicle crash near Ayer Keroh R&R
3. Malaysiakini: Govt to end Puspakom’s monopoly of vehicle inspections
4. Malaysiakini: MACC detains 8 in heavy vehicle inspection syndicate

(Mariam Mokhtar is a Freelance Writer.)