KUALA LUMPUR: Standard operating procedures (SOPs) governing enforcement vehicles should be reviewed to ensure drivers follow safe protocols during emergency operations, say road safety experts.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said a recent crash involving an Immigration Department truck that killed three people highlighted the risks posed by heavy government vehicles.
“Although a government vehicle is responding to an operation, the activation of the siren or beacon should never mean that the driver has permission to enter a junction without ensuring other road users have noticed the vehicle and stopped in time,” he said when contacted.
Law said that while a full investigation involving CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts must establish the facts, the incident raises wider questions about how government vehicles are operated during raids.
He recommended that all government vehicle drivers undergo regular defensive driving and advanced hazard-perception training, particularly on navigating signalised intersections, anticipating road users’ behaviour, speed management and stopping distances.
“There should be one more principle for any emergency or enforcement driving; having a siren and beacon does not mean there is no need to decelerate and ensure that the intersection is safe to pass,” he said.
Law also called for regular competency assessments, as well as medical and fatigue checks where necessary, vehicle inspections and monitoring of driving behaviour through GPS and in-vehicle cameras.
He said the review should not focus solely on whether the driver had complied with the existing SOP.
“The point is whether the SOP provides enough safety for other road users,” he said.
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon agreed that existing SOPs must be reviewed to safeguard all road users.
“The review must focus on ensuring the safety of all on the road.
“A proper traffic management system is needed so that department personnel can prioritise road safety at all times,” he said.
Road Safety Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye questioned the need for the truck to be travelling at speed.
“What is most worrying is that the operation had already been completed and the vehicle was only on its way to pick up detainees.
“Why was there a need to speed? This is a very serious road safety matter,” he said.
Lee said road safety was a shared responsibility that applied to everyone, regardless of whether they were driving government or private vehicles.
“Every road user has a role to play in ensuring safety. Government vehicles are not exempted from observing traffic rules and laws.
“Drivers must always exercise caution and never compromise road safety, particularly when operating large vehicles that can pose a greater risk to other road users,” he said.
