Rethink way of delivering message on illegal racing

I RECENTLY covered an Ops Samseng Jalanan organised by the Perak police to tackle illegal street racing activities.

As the motorcyclists, mainly youths, were made to push their vehicles to the Kampung Tawas police station in Ipoh, some of their parents were already waiting there to take them home.

Many parents wore sad expressions, while others appeared truly disappointed.

There was one man, presumably the father of one of the young mat rempit, who was so incensed that he broke into a tirade and had to be calmed down by a policeman.

A sobbing youth walked over and begged for forgiveness from the man.

Hopefully, the young man understood his wrongdoing and will refrain from participating in illegal activities in the future.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of addressing illegal racing and the emotional toll it takes on families.

There is just no benefit that can come out of such an activity, apart from getting a few moments of adrenaline rush.

And despite the many awareness programmes or talks being conducted to educate youngsters, these activities are still happening.

This begs the question: is there an issue or a flaw with how the message is being delivered to the youth?

Are we, as a society, doing enough to keep our children from taking part in illegal streetracing?

If the approach relies solely on talks, they may fail to capture the youths’ attention, leading to a loss of interest in the message.

Perhaps the authorities should instead create impactful video clips depicting the illegal activities and the consequences that follow, which can be screened in all schools.

The video clip could depict how these illegal races could result in accidents, leading to injuries or even loss of life.

Perhaps some graphic imagery could jolt them into realising that this “fun” illegal activity could have tragic consequences.

I believe a visual message is better suited to relay the gravity of the offence to children and youths.

Parents, too, need to take more responsibility towards their offspring.

They should be strict in not allowing youths to ride a motorcycle without a licence, no matter the circumstance.

It is not uncommon to see children, some as young as 10 or 11, riding motorcycles without helmets (and definitely without a licence) in some villages, rural and even suburban areas.

So again, it is up to parents to reinforce the message to their children to not do anything that is wrong or illegal.

It also goes without saying that a child is usually a reflection of the parent.

Engaging more deeply in their children’s lives can foster stronger relationships and guide the young away from risky behaviours.