Potholes aplenty due to poor maintenance culture

LARGE potholes on the road have the potential to cause severe damage to the tyres, wheels, suspension and body of one’s vehicle.

And also to one’s wallet, as happened to journalist Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, “The perennial problem of p-hailing and potholes” (The Star, May 2; online at https://bit.ly/3oXBswN).

Wong wrote that he had to spend a huge sum of money to fix his car after it hit a massive pothole along Persiaran Surian in the upmarket Petaling Jaya area.

I’ve also had a nasty encounter with a huge pothole while driving my Myvi during heavy rain recently.

Potholes can cause a driver to swerve into another vehicle, causing a crash and serious injury, including broken bones, concussion and whiplash.

Numerous complaints about these hazardous and unsightly depressions on the road have been made over the years to the relevant local authorities. But many are left untended due to poor maintenance culture among local authorities.

Is it too much to ask local authorities to get their act together, especially during this period when incessant and heavy rainfall can make the problem even worse?

While on the subject of road safety, there is another aspect that also needs urgent attention – faded road markings.

In parts of Jalan Damansara, the white lines separating the road lanes have faded away, posing a danger to motorists who may be confused when deciding to switch lanes.

While it is convenient to blame the rain for washing away the lines, shouldn’t the local authorities be held accountable for not constantly monitoring and doing remedial work?

Lives and livelihoods are at stake on the roads every day.

It has been reported that Malaysia has the highest road fatality risk among Asean countries, and that more than 50% of the road fatalities involve motorcyclists, the majority of whom are between 16 and 20 years old.

The police can do more to caution and apprehend erring motorists who have scant regard for traffic rules.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE

Kuala Lumpur