PETALING JAYA: What began as an ordinary drive out of his condominium basement quickly turned into a near collision for CK Wong when a bright light suddenly appeared on his driver’s side window.
As he turned the corner, he was startled to find another car heading towards him from a lane clearly marked with a no-entry sign.
“To make matters worse, the sign was right there above the lane, and the road markings clearly showed the direction vehicles were supposed to follow,” said the 33-year-old.
“I immediately braked while the other car squeezed past. When we met again at the guardhouse, I asked the driver why they came that way.
“They apologised and said they were new to the area, but that is no excuse when the signage is so clear.”
For 29-year-old Siti Jumia Abu Bakar, her close call involved a motorcyclist making an illegal turn near her neighbourhood.
“I saw the motorcyclist coming from the opposite side, but what shocked me was the sudden illegal U-turn.
“There was no remorse, even though the rider nearly scraped my car. He just rode off as if nothing happened,” she said.
More recently, questions have again arisen regarding compliance with road rules after a 71-year-old in Penang died after being hit by a car while using a zebra crossing.
In another now-viral video, several motorists were seen deliberately driving through a pedestrian crossing being used by school students.
This was despite the presence of a traffic warden.
Vehicle Theft and Accident Reduction Council general manager Mas Tina Abdul Hamid said stop signs, give way signs and pedestrian crossings remain the most frequently ignored signs, according to their findings.
“These signs are often dismissed, not out of ignorance but complacency, overconfidence and the dangerous belief that familiar roads carry minimal risk.
“These signs are not optional guidelines; instead, they are deliberate safety mechanisms designed to protect every road user.”
She added that motorcyclists, in particular, are more likely to take risks as the bike’s smaller size and agility seemingly give riders a false sense of security.
Road Safety Council of Malaysia executive council member Datuk Suret Singh said there must be stringent enforcement to instil compliance among motorists.
“We need a fully working Kejara system where drivers are also rewarded for good behaviour. Similarly, instances of drivers beating red lights or not giving way to pedestrians at a zebra crossing should be met with immediate and severe punishments.
“Licences should be suspended without mercy if detected. Without this, it lacks deterrence and protection for road users.”
Suret said the current status quo seemingly supports bad driving behaviour due to the lack of suspensions for reckless drivers, alongside a lack of comprehensive identification and rehabilitation.
