CONVENTIONAL wisdom has it that motorsport events are inherently dangerous since many of them demand extremely fast driving. But vehicular drivers or riders who choose to participate in these events understand and accept the risks associated with their decisions. The bigger issue, however, is spectator safety. Many go to an event expecting that they would be safe but they have a responsibility both to look after themselves and to positively engage with safety marshals posted at designated places to help keep them out of harm’s way. When vehicles travel at high speed there is always the possibility of an accident which could also injure spectators. Motorsports may have become a lot safer over recent years but an accident can happen to anyone.
Malaysians were shocked to read about the deaths of company supervisor Izwan Isa, 39, and his 5-year-old daughter Nurzulaikha Izwan, who were killed after being hit by a buggy while watching the Educational Innovation of Motorsports and Automotive Race (Eimarace) 2016 in Kuantan on Sunday. His wife, teacher Siti Suhaiza Seman, 38, sustained light injuries while their 7-year-old son was badly hurt. In the 11.30am incident, Izwan, a factory supervisor in Gebeng, and his family were said to be standing close to the circuit. The victims failed to move out in time when the said buggy suddenly went out of control before skidding and hitting them.
The race was held on a haphazardly put-together street circuit with plastic water barriers used as barricades on the straight where the tragedy took place. The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) has provisionally suspended the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) from conducting motorsport activities pending the outcome of an enquiry into the disaster said to be due to MAM’s non-compliance with required safety standards.
Motorsports take many forms — from events at large circuits to meets on stretches of an open field — and they provide enjoyment for competitors and spectators alike. The organisers can be big companies or small motor clubs whose members take part for the fun of it. The safety precautions for a grand car racing event held at a permanent racetrack will be different from those for a motorcycle trial on a stretch of land, but the basic principles will be the same. The question to ask is, did the organisers of Eimarace take all reasonable precautions and establish safe areas for spectators and unsafe (prohibited) ones? Did they also carry out a proper risk assessment? Observers note that there are generally two different types of spectators at motorsport events — firstly, the enthusiasts who are knowledgeable and into the sport and, secondly, the general public, often locals, who attend them because they happen within their localities. But both groups can cause problems for a variety of reasons. Did the organisers know their spectators? It is futile to lash out at viewers who chose to watch Eimarace from the sides of the track instead of in the safety of a stadium. Saying that the location of the disaster was an area prohibited to the public and that the organisers did not expect spectators to be there reveals the ignorance of those involved in setting up Eimarace. Each of them shares a responsibility to ensure safety within the gathering.