I just can't believe that it takes more than one and half months to get an 'L' licence in Kuala Lumpur. My wife who registered with a driving school in mid-April is still waiting to get her learner's permit from the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

It was more than three weeks before she could sit for her written test. By the time she got her L licence most likely she would have forgotten what she had learnt for the written test. This is probably one reason why accident rates are so high in Malaysia despite the reasonably good infrastructure.

I am not privy to JPJ procedures but the department should look at the procedure in Brisbane where I took my licence. One can get L licence within an hour during any working day. All one has to do is to drop by any of its branches spread throughout the city and take the test. No prior appointment is needed.

The government emphasis here is on safe driving. And in line with this philosophy the standard of actual driving tests is set very high. Likewise the driving instructors also maintain a very high standard.

During my recent visit to Malaysia I had the opportunity to compare Brisbane road users with those of KL. Brisbane road users were ahead in good road habits.

What I found most appalling in KL drivers were their total disregard for pedestrian crossings, not signalling when changing lanes, turning or overtaking, maintaining a very small distance from the front vehicle, ignoring give-way rules at roundabouts, and not observing the speed limits.

I cannot remember how many potentially tragic accidents I avoided within a period of one month. Once I stopped at a pedestrian crossing to give way to a schoolchild. The car behind almost crashed into me.

JPJ should focus on these areas to improve road safety in the city. Learning by error is the most primitive way. It should learn from other countries that have tested and proven road safety experiences. Its main objective is to ensure the safety of the road users.

Malaysia has seen much progress but JPJ's standard suggests otherwise if it takes three months to issue a licence that can be done within an hour elsewhere . It is these sort of administrative red tapes that will be the most serious obstacle to our achieving developed-nation status.