Overloaded lorries — that is a fact.

Overloaded lorries endanger the safety of road users, which is certainly true. If overloaded lorries are not strictly regulated, it will lead to accelerated road wear and increased maintenance costs — again, an undeniable fact.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s insistence on strict enforcement, stating that “human life is more important than making money,” is also a fact.

However, this wave of enforcement has caused disruptions in the logistics supply chain, skyrocketing transportation costs, and project delays — this is also true.

Overloaded lorries are not a new issue; they are a long-standing, serious social problem.

From lorry drivers, transport companies, industry stakeholders, to government agencies, everyone should bear their respective responsibilities.

In the past, we have only started talking about strict enforcement or holding drivers and transport companies accountable after serious casualties occurred.

It is not just lorries; long-distance buses speeding recklessly on highways have also caused fatalities, and this problem has yet to be fundamentally addressed.

The root of the problem is that law enforcement tends to be short-lived, inconsistent, and full of loopholes, which is why overloading and reckless driving persist.

Enforcement should target not only drivers but also irresponsible transport and bus companies.

 At the same time, officials in the Road Transport Department and Public Works Department, who fail to fulfil their duties, keep laws and regulations outdated, or do not improve infrastructure, should also bear significant responsibility.

Maintaining road safety is everyone’s responsibility. We cannot always wait until another lorry or long-distance bus accident occurs before engaging in discussions; after each wave of attention, overloaded lorries are still on the road, bus drivers continue to drive while fatigued, and the public is still forced to coexist with these “road bombs.”

Therefore, we support Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s proactive approach to confronting the problem and demonstrating determination to safeguard road safety.

However, strict enforcement alone is not the only solution to removing “road bombs.”

Existing laws on the weight limits for commercial vehicles like lorries are mostly based on old standards. With advances in road technology and vehicle design, these regulations may be outdated and limit efficient legal transport.

Thus, besides enforcement, the government should revise and improve current laws so that weight limits align with modern roads and vehicle designs. At the same time, the government must enhance the load-bearing capacity of roads and bridges, because modern heavy vehicles can safely carry more weight than older models.

Doing so can improve logistics efficiency, reduce costs and time wasted due to overloading or inefficient transport. If roads and bridges are designed to meet modern vehicle requirements, damage from legal weight limits can be avoided, extending the lifespan of frequently used roads. This ensures road safety while lowering maintenance costs and smoothing logistics.

Additionally, many drivers of long-distance buses and lorries are forced to drive long hours continuously, or companies hire drivers with substance abuse issues or poor health (e.g., older drivers or those with impaired vision) — these are real situations.

Within the industry, there are also hidden practices akin to “money talks,” where serious safety issues are ignored. When a major accident occurs, these layered problems among drivers are exposed, highlighting the long-term laxity and lack of strict enforcement.

If authorities fail to strictly supervise and ensure that drivers undergo regular health checks, passenger and road user safety cannot be effectively protected. Loopholes arise when companies submit false driver information to renew annual licenses, if enforcement is lax and inspections are irregular.

Some transport and bus companies prioritise profits over driver welfare, ignoring driver’s competency and vehicle maintenance. I believe all commercial activities are fundamentally a matter of conscience; operators must share social responsibility and safety obligations and cannot focus solely on profit.

Minister Loke’s proactive approach is the right direction. But alongside stricter enforcement, legal gaps must also be addressed.

If both government and industry perform their roles respectively, a healthy and sustainable business and safety ecosystem can be built, which is the long-term solution to safeguarding road safety.

Of course, operators believe that if strict enforcement is suddenly increased before foundational work is completed, it could disrupt the logistics supply chain and drive up prices for the public. Ideally, enforcement should advance reforms without interfering with logistics operations.

Yet, reality often makes compromise difficult, and the public’s tolerance for reckless driving and overloading has long reached its limit.