Everyone’s speaking in regards to the floods and rightly so. Unprecedented rainfall over two days have precipitated many components within the Klang Valley to be submerged, and the state of affairs is even worse within the East Coast, the place whole cities are beneath water. But nobody talks about car accidents, which claim a lot more lives than natural disasters, at the very least in Malaysia. We’re desensitised, maybe.
Last week, there was a horrific accident on the Elite Highway involving a trailer and three cars. Ten folks died that evening, together with 9 in a single automobile alone – a mom and her eight youngsters. Apparently, the lorry rammed into the three cars that had been on the emergency lane, after one of many cars broke down. This is just not the primary time such an accident occurred.
The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) has reminded motorists to not try any car repair on the emergency lanes of highways. Instead, one ought to name 999 or the highway operator for help. MIROS chairman Datuk Suret Singh mentioned that repairing cars or altering tyres on the emergency lane is extraordinarily harmful.
“All highway operators have patrol teams, so contact them for assistance. If you don’t have the number, Google it. Usually, the highway patrol team will arrive in a short time and tow the stranded vehicle to the nearest rest area. All passengers should get down from the car and gather outside the highway barriers,” he mentioned.
Suret added that automobiles that breakdown must have their hazard lights on, and motorists are suggested to place a security triangle or site visitors cone round 30 metres behind the automobile. One also needs to use a torchlight to warn oncoming cars. The highway security advocate additionally urged motorists to maintain a hi-vis reflective vest within the automobile for emergency use.
