I recently enrolled my wife for driving instruction and, being an English speaker, she was supplied with a booklet called 'Driver's Education Curriculum'. This is what one would call in the West, the 'Highway Code'. She was also given a booklet of multiple choice questions called 'Understanding Exercise (Varied Questions)' - again in English.

Question 3 of the Varied Questions asks (their translation):

'At a traffic jam, you discover that your vehicle has smoke in the front portion and the temperature indicator has lightened. What that you require to be taken?'

The correct answer according to the JPJ is:

1. Switch off engine and add water quickly. Open radiator cap and add water.

It doesn't take a degree in rocket science to realise that if the engine is overheating, the radiator is more than likely filled with steam at high pressure. To open the radiator cap will basically scald all the skin off your arms, face and any other exposed portion of your body near the radiator cap. I have seen this scenario many times in Scotland when working as a doctor in the casualty department.

It is absolutely criminally nonsensical to teach prospective drivers this dangerous information. There are many other instances of stupid answers in the JPJ booklet - many to do with driving on the highway.

When a problem arises, the answer is invariably 'move to road shoulder as quickly as possible' - absolutely no mention of looking in rearview mirrors to make sure you are not being overtaken Malaysian-style on the inside lane or whatever.

If the JPJ aims to promote safer driving, these booklets are a mile off the mark.

Just as an aside, I have been driving for 47 years now, and, as I was a medical practitioner who had to do emergency house calls day and night, I used to take annual advanced driving courses from the police trainers, including sessions on their skid-pan etc.

But I must say that I would be unable to pass the questionnaire on the Malaysian highway code.