SIBU: A recent accident that claimed the lives of three people while changing a punctured tyre is a stark reminder that motorists need to find a safe spot to do such minor repairs.
Describing the incident as most tragic, a member of Road Safety Council, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, cautioned that vehicles travelling at a great speed might not be able to see a stationery vehicle in front.
Voicing grave concern, he said this might result in a collision and even loss of lives.
“Under no circumstances should motorists stop at the road side to replace their flat tyres as records showed of accidents happening in the past.
“As such, if a vehicle experiences a breakdown or has a punctured tyre, the driver must drive to a safe spot and not at the road side to change the tyre.
“You see, stopping abruptly due to mechanical problems, the motorists and the passengers face all forms of dangers.
“What happened last Saturday was very tragic and should be a lesson to all,” Lee said in giving road safety tips.
He also recalled a stationery lorry laden with fruits parked by the road side being rammed from behind.
The recent accident, according to a media report last week referred to a Perodua Kembara car which hit a husband and wife and a male relative, killing them instantly when they were replacing a flat tyre of their
car.
Prior to the incident, the three were said to be heading from Roban, Sarikei, to Sibu Jaya, but a flat tyre forced them to pull over.
And just last month, a collision between a bus and a stationery lorry laden with oil palm fruits at KM105 Sibu-Bintulu Road claimed the life of the bus driver while his assistant suffered minor injuries.
The bus reportedly carrying 10 passengers was heading to Miri from Kuching when it hit the rear of the malfunctioning lorry parked at the roadside.
Lee, who is also National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman advised motorists to drive to a safe spot and call for a tow truck service.
“In that way, they can have their punctured tyre replaced or mechanical faults rectified safely in a garage,” he said.
He stressed that road safety must be ingrained in motorists to become part of the culture.
“Safety should not be taken for granted while on the road and everyone has a responsibility to make commuting safe,” he stressed.
In an earlier interview, Lee disclosed that a staggering 6,000 lives were lost due to traffic accidents yearly nationwide and the number had not declined but somehow maintained at a plateau.