Miros: Vehicle maintenance, road inspections among ways to minimise risks
PETALING JAYA: Leaving debris on the road and road shoulders can lead to potentially dangerous situations, say road safety experts. This comes after recent road accidents in which vehicles collided with objects, ranging from a car battery to a detached lorry wheel.
Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua, head of the Road Safety Research Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Engineering Faculty, said any objects on the road can lead to disastrous outcomes, particularly when hit by vehicles travelling at high speeds.
“In the case of road hazards like car batteries or other debris, having a more robust and immediate reporting and response system is vital.
“Cameras and sensors along highways can help detect such dangers quickly, alerting the authorities to clear the road or warn of such hazards,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He said utilising modern technology like advanced collision detection systems, both in vehicles and on road infrastructure, could help prevent accidents.
“Many newer vehicles are equipped with sensors that alert drivers to potential hazards, and these systems could be extended to more public roads,” he said.
While it’s important for drivers to act responsibly, Law argued that road design can also play an important role to mitigate risks.
“For example, designated areas for vehicle breakdowns, proper barriers and more frequent checks on road cleanliness can reduce the occurrence of roadside accidents,” he said.
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon said a combination of measures must be taken to minimise accidents involving collision with debris on the road.
“Firstly, transport companies and vehicle owners should ensure proper vehicle maintenance and roadworthiness.
“Lorries, for example, need to undergo stringent inspection by the respective authorities to ensure that their maintenance is properly maintained.
“As for the authorities, they must also play their part to go and inspect the roads from time to time, whether there are objects that can damage vehicles on the road.
“Without proper checks, it can cause serious accidents and can be fatal.
“We also need a mechanism so the public can lodge a report easily if they see any dangerous object on the road,” he said, adding that authorities need to respond fast to such reports.
Road Safety Marshal Club president K. Bala said more awareness and road safety campaigns should be done to educate the public.
“It is actually a collective responsibility. We need to empower and educate our drivers with the right knowledge.
“At the same time, there needs to be proper inspection by the authorities and vehicles need to be maintained,” he said.
On Jan 30, a Mercedes C200 caught fire shortly after reportedly hitting a car battery left by the roadside at a stretch leading to the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge, or the Second Bridge, in Penang.
On Dec 23 last year, seven people perished in a multi-vehicle accident at KM204 of the North-South Expressway (north-bound) in an incident triggered by the wheel detachment of a south-bound lorry.
