KUALA LUMPUR: A road safety advocate has called on the government to consider banning repeat traffic offenders from driving heavy commercial vehicles.
Alliance of Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye also proposed that the government look into ways to punish employers who failed to ensure employees were fit to drive their vehicles.
The former Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research chairman made the call in the wake of an accident that killed five Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah students in Perak recently, as well as a survey by Zutobi — an online international motoring company — that ranked Malaysia as the 8th most dangerous country to drive in.
"Among the questions that arise from the road crash is why a person with 22 traffic summonses is allowed to drive? Shouldn't his licence be suspended or revoked?
"The authorities should look into banning an individual from driving (heavy commercial vehicles) if the person is a repeat offender or has accumulated a number of summonses," said Lee, who is also the former National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman.
The trailer driver that crashed into the car of the five students had 22 summonses. Of the total, 21 had been settled, including eight for speeding offences.
The driver is being remanded to assist in investigations.
"Another question is why can't the employer be held responsible? Employers should also do their part to improve road safety. Adopting a tidak apa (couldn't care less) attitude is not right."
Lee said there were multinational companies, such as Shell, that ensured trailer drivers were well-paid, had enough rest between trips, and were trained, fit and qualified.
He said improved road safety required a combination of many factors, including the human aspect, road engineering as well as enforcement of laws.
"Everywhere in the world, the human factor is the most important element.
"Apart from the attitude of the driver, we must check whether drivers have enough rest or are under the influence of unhealthy substances.
"We must also check the stress level of drivers, especially during traffic congestion, and what causes drivers to lose concentration. Despite being told so many times, there are still drivers who use handphones while driving. I once saw a driver using his tablet while driving," he said.
Lee said there were enough awareness campaigns on safe driving by non-governmental organisations and the government.
"And we have many laws and regulations with strict penalties. But enforcement is very weak.
"There will be fewer accidents if people comply with traffic laws with strict enforcement," he said.
Road safety expert Associate Professor Dr Rozmi Ismail also said there were enough laws on traffic offences, but enforcement was lacking.
"It is not that the laws are not a deterrent. Our laws are almost on a par with international standards.
"Despite having strict laws, there is an element of kesian (sympathy) in enforcement. For example, instead of sending a traffic offender to prison for failure to pay a summons, enforcers allow reduced fines instead.
"And the cycle will not stop since the younger generation will not see the laws as a deterrent," said Rozmi, who studied traffic psychology, social psychology, research methodology and experimental psychology.
Lee and Dr Rozmi, however, had different views on the survey by Zutobi.
Lee said Malaysia should take note of the survey although the outcome was not complimentary to the country.
He said Malaysia should benchmark itself against countries with the best road safety practices.
Rozmi, however, said the study's findings were "scary" and "not accurate".
He said Malaysia was ranked the 8th most dangerous country to drive in after the survey weighed in the number of road fatalities.
Unlike Western countries, he said, one of the most common modes of transport in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, was motorcycles.
"Out of 10 road fatalities in the country, seven of them may involve the rider or pillion rider of a motorcycle.
"In most Western countries, a majority of people there drive cars and rarely use motorcycles."
Taking into account that most road fatalities in the country involved motorcycle riders, Rozmi said Malaysia could boost road safety by conducting large-scale enforcement, similar to the effort to curb Covid-19.
"Perhaps the government should consider banning motorcycles from roads with the exception of those in e-hailing services and others involved in delivery work after 8pm."