LETTERS: There have been reports of road bullies and road rage recently. To bully others on the road is a crime, especially if it results in damage and fatalities.
According to research by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety, it is estimated that out of 13.3 million registered drivers, 2.4 million are "furiously angry" while on the road.
This shows that Malaysians lose their cool and are easily stressed and temperamental while on the road, especially when they are caught in traffic.
Some yell, honk endlessly, throw objects, tailgate, block, ram or use foul language.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre chief Associate Professor Dr Law Teik Hua said road bullies happened due to a lack of awareness about road safety or tolerance.
The punishment for road bullies might not be severe enough.
Imposing longer-term imprisonment and increase in fines, instead of only issuing summonses, may stop road bullying and road rage cases.
We don't want motorists to think that they can take the law lightly.
NORAZLINDA MOHAMMAD
Senior lecturer of journalism, Communication and Media Studies, College of Computing, Informatics and Media, UiTM, Melaka
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times