APRIL 10 — The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) is concerned that the traffic accident where a lorry skidded and hit a guardrail along East Coast Highway towards Bukit Besi on 6 April 2017, where the driver was killed and two others were injured.
Another traffic accident where a multi-purpose vehicle was crushed by a trailer that skidded at KM403.3 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) near the Tanjung Malim on 2 April 2017 that has resulted in the loss of six lives. Based on the news report the trailer driver lost control of his vehicle when one of the vehicle’s tyres burst.
While vehicle factors are one of the causes in this incident, IEM would like to make some recommendations to prevent similar incidents of this nature. Some of the contributing factors for the frequent accidents in Malaysia includes the road design, vehicle factors and safe operation practices of the drivers.
IEM would like to propose some recommendations to improve road safety, which would not be limited only to these specific cases.
The Institution would like to suggest to establish and implement a nationwide systematic road safety assessment and risk mapping; standardise the requirements for road design, strengthening the enforcement of the use of safety barrier and develop national speed management strategy and regular Road Safety Audits to be conducted at all stages, including for existing roads.
IEM would like to propose to enhance the existing licensing process of public services and goods vehicles, mandate the use of Retarder System, encourage the use of Speed Limiter and strengthen the heavy vehicle inspection process.
A systematic driver selection and training program to ensure that only qualified and responsible drivers are allowed on the road should be established. It is also important to enhance the Road Safety Culture and Safety Awareness Campaign among the road users.
IEM is also concerned on the incident where a car plunged into a 16-metre deep open sewage site near Kajang Perdana on 31 March 2017. A rather similar incident happened on 3 May last year along Jalan Universiti near Section 17.
The Institution would like to emphasise that wherever there are construction hazards along public roads, appropriate Traffic Management Plans are studied and carried out by the Contractors, including temporary warning signs, delineation or road markings, blinkers, flagmen and safety barrier system, in accordance with JKR, LLM or other recognised association guidelines. Where plastic barriers are used, the plastic barriers should be connected and weighed down by water. In areas where there are deep drops, piers or near water bodies, concrete barriers should replace plastic barriers.
IEM is willing and ready to provide the technical expertise and independent advice to authorities in reviewing the guidelines required to prevent similar accidents from recurring.
* Tan Yean Chin is the president of The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia.
** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
