‘Fewer straight stretches make Sarawak roads relatively safer’

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ENSURING SAFE JOURNEY: A motorist fastening the baby safety seat on her child while Nezriman (left) and Redzuan look on. — Photo by Chimon Upon

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Roads in Sarawak are “relatively safer” compared to those in Peninsular Malaysia because there are fewer straight stretches in the state that could contribute to highway hypnosis, a factor in some fatal accident cases.

State Road Safety assistant director Redzuan Hamdan said: “We (the public) must be careful and considerate when driving. The roads in Sarawak are relatively safer compared to that in Peninsular Malaysia and many other countries which have many straight roads that could contribute to highway hypnosis.”

The good news is that the State Police and Road Transport Department (RTD) recorded decrease in fatal accident cases year to year, he pointed out.

He believed this was due to greater public awareness on road safety brought about road safety campaigns carried out by the authorities and the private sector.

When met at a road safety campaign in conjunction with the Chinese New Year season in front of Petronas station at Samarahan Expressway here, Redzuan said most people now were more careful.

He said: “Long time ago, we heard of cases where parents knocked down children and cats when reversing their cars at home. But today such case is unheard of. This is because people are becoming more careful. Before they reverse their cars they would be first making sure that no child or cat is behind their vehicles.”

To long distance drivers, he advised them to stop and rest after every two hours to avoid sleeping while driving, pointing out that a four-second doze could contribute to the root cause of accidents.

As if by fate, a car suddenly rammed into several cones placed by the campaigners on the road while Redzuan was briefing reporters by the roadside.

“Now that is what we termed ‘Red Mist’ (an example of when a driver is so easily distracted by things other than driving),” he said in jest when reacting to the scene.

Redzuan said it would be quite impossible for the authorities to eliminate road accidents as the population and number of road users increased rapidly every year.

However, he added, the number of fatal cases could be reduced if drivers install safety gadgets inside their vehicles apart from exercising care and courtesy on the road.

The campaign yesterday saw officers and/or representatives from the state RTD, Puspakom Sdn Bhd, Petronas Dagangan and corporate sponsor Allianze General Insurance Co (M) Bhd distributing crash helmets, baby safety seats and safety stickers among other things to the first few road users passing the campaigners. Allianze sponsored the baby safety seats and safety stickers.

On the campaign, Redzuan said it was not periodic but an on-going affair.

Among those present were State RTD head of operations Nezriman Uthman, Allianze business development manager Raymond Chin, Puspakom branch manager Jeff Chong and Samarahan Expressway Petronas Petrol station business partner Nancy Lim.