Let’s all keep cool on the roads

ARE Malaysian drivers getting angrier?

We’ve always been unsafe drivers – more than 1,200 accidents were recorded on the fourth day of the usual festive period operations run by traffic police, and 16 deaths occurred on April 11, they said.

But nowadays, adding to the carnage on the roads are incidents of road rage.

Reportedly, Malaysians are an “angry and dangerous lot” on the road no matter whether it’s a long holiday or not.

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) conducts regular surveys on road safety issues including road rage incidents. In a few surveys, it was found that 63% of Malaysian drivers admitted to experiencing road rage, and that road rage-related offences accounted for approximately 15% of all traffic violations in 2023.

Look, we all get angry, enraged even, when we get caught in one of Malaysia’s infamous traffic jams.

And who hasn’t seen that mild-mannered friend turn into a swearing bad boy/girl behind the wheel? Or have been one ourselves?

But it’s when that anger becomes actual bad driving behaviour that road rage incidents happen – and anecdotal evidence suggests more and more such cases are cropping up more frequently.

In last Sunday’s incident, a dramatic accident occurred on the Karak Highway when two drivers began overtaking each other.

The cars were seen slamming into each other a few times in obviously aggressive driving before one driver lost control and the vehicle flipped over.

Two people were injured.

Luckily, no one died. This time.

Agression on the road cannot go unchecked, not when cases are increasing. But addressing this issue requires several approaches.

We must first acknowledge that there is an increased traffic volume on our roads, especially during long holiday seasons, and that our roads might not have been built to accommodate such numbers.

Over two million vehicles were expected to be on major highways during the Hari Raya holidays.

So there is a pressing need for traffic management improvements. Infrastructure enhancements that reduce bottlenecks and improve traffic flow can significantly decrease driver frustration.

To deter drivers from engaging in aggressive driving behaviours such as tailgating, making sudden lane changes without indicating, and speeding, strict monitoring and penalisation must be implemented.

And can we please stop giving “discounts” for traffic tickets – it’s not a deterrent to bad driving behaviour if it doesn’t hurt the pocket, surely?

Strict enforcement is also one way of encouraging individual responsibility and behavioural change, which is crucial in combating road rage.

Drivers should be educated about the signs of road rage and the importance of emotional control behind the wheel.

For this, workshops and driving school curricula could incorporate modules on anger management and the psychological aspects of driving.

Drivers should also plan ahead to avoid the stress of being late.

We all know the state of our roads at peak travel times, so allow extra time to get to your destination.

Public campaigns can also raise awareness about the severe impacts of road rage and the benefits of courteous driving behaviour.

Additionally, law enforcement agencies must be stringent in penalising aggressive driving behaviours that could lead to road rage incidents.

This includes suspending licences for increasing periods culminating in a suspension for life if drivers are found to repeatedly engage in harmful behaviour that endanger other road users.

All this requires collaboration among governmental bodies, traffic authorities, psychologists, and, most importantly, the community.

There is an urgency to do this as part of a collective effort to stem the tide of road rage and create a safer, more respectful driving environment in the country.