Malaysian Road Drivers

"The "Ops Sikap XII" road safety campaign met its objective to reduce fatal accidents during the Chinese New Year festive period, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.

He said that as at midnight last night, 190 fatalities averaging 13.6 deaths daily were recorded during the two-week operation against a 17.2 daily death rate on normal days."

News Source

17.2 Malaysian road users die every day! That's like over 6,000 deaths in a normal year. How gruesome is that?

The news report went on to say that 60% of the fatalities involve motorcyclists and their pillion riders. Makes one's blood curdle to hear that. Especially those with loved ones who commute daily on bikes.

My friend, Mona is such a case. She trembles when she reads the latest escapades of the Mat Rempits in the news and prays that her motorcyclist son is not in anyway involved with them.

"I am worried for him everytime he's on the road. I wished we could afford to get a car for him but a Modenas bike is all I could give him," she sighs.

In her concern, she calls him every now and then to check on his whereabouts. "I told him that it's not because I want to control his movements, but I can't rest unless I know that he's safe and not lying on the road somewhere helpless and bleeding."

It was one of those rare moments where I get to see the other side of the story. You see, most of the car drivers in town can really nurse a grudge against motorcyclists in general. Ask anyone and they'll gladly tell you many tales on how errant motorcyclists did them wrong and showed no signs of remorse for it.

"I know a lot of people curse motorcyclists in their hearts when they see them on the road," Mona went on. "But not all motorcyclists are reckless. Not all of them are Mat Rempits."

My heart goes out to her. Even if it's not their fault, the chances of these vulnerable motorcyclists perishing on the roads are way higher than other road users.

A mother's love is tireless and Mona never ceases to remind her son to practice road safety and exercise civic consciousness. And most importantly, to practice it herself. There is no doubt that this is a good way to inculcate good values in the lives of young Malaysians.

There is an radio advertisement in the airwaves recently where a young child was gently reminding her dad to obey the traffic laws.

"Don't cut queue, daddy..."

"Don't speed, daddy. You are supposed to go only 65 kph."

"Daddy, did you signal before making that turn?"

"Daddy, why is the uncle on the motorbike not wearing a helmet?"

Nice ad. But I think that if the daddy keeps on disobeying the laws, he will be effectively imparting subtle but strong negative values to the girl. She may very well grow up to know the rules in her head but not practicing them. Monkey see, monkey do.

Could this possibly be one of the reasons for our shocking road death rates? Perhaps it's time to look at our own driving behavior. I have quite a few areas to go myself. Like leaving earlier to get to my destination so that I would not be tempted to speed.

Let's do our bit to bring down the road accident stats. May the term "Malaysian drivers" evoke a smile of fond remembrance to tourists instead of the shudder at the traumatic thoughts that normally accompanies the unfortunate term.

Malaysia boleh!