LETTER | When can we ever see a drastic improvement in safety on our motorways?

Looking at the mounting deaths and terrible accidents on our roads, one cannot help but fear that the will to put a stop to the increasingly irresponsible, careless, inexperienced, daredevil motorists on our roads is only waning with the years.

While unsafe road conditions and a growing vehicle population contribute to the problem, it's unsafe acts that ultimately cause accidents and loss of life.

Obviously, it is the motorist who is the main and ultimate cause of all the accidents.

Poor judgment, lack of experience and skills, blatant disregard for safety laws and road rules, bad attitude - all of these are making it increasingly unsafe for good, law-abiding motorists to navigate our roads.

Please do not propagate or take cover under the belief that it is God's will that one has to suffer flesh and limb or even see death on the roadways.

If the policymakers are not ready to converge and introduce a holistic, coordinated, and permanent remedy to address all of the stated human failings, we had better be prepared to crowd the wards and graveyards with increasing casualties and misery.

Categories for motorists

Perhaps, motorists should be graded into categories of experience, and have it registered on their vehicle's number plate.

Speed limits must be enforced for novice and lower-graded motorists.

Motorists with more than one previous traffic offence should be banned for five years. Of course, we need the will to enforce it without fear or favour.

Remove all roadside billboards and banner advertisements that certainly distract motorists.

And in place, increase the number of safety and hazard warning signs. Ensure that these signages are not obstructed by foliage, which is now a common sight along many roadways.

Advertisements do generate good revenue for the authorities, but we must put public safety over and above economic gains. That is responsible governance.

Buffer space

Stop the widely exploited practice of approving buildings and eateries or even stalls close to roadways.

We need to have good buffer space along roads for future expansion of the roads, and also line roads with trees that can help motorists stay cool and focused.

To arrest bad behaviour, we need to increase our police patrol presence on our roads. Lack of manpower and vehicles is unacceptable given the seriousness of the road safety situation in the country.

Promoting safety awareness among the youth is a good move. However, are we to wait another decade before a new generation of well-behaved motorists takes to the roads and, in the meantime, lose more lives and register more casualties?

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.