I shall be driving for some 400 kilometers to the Capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The drive should not be as bad as it will be a day before Chinese New Year when thousands per hour will be heading back home.

Thus far during all my years of driving in my motherland, in Thailand, Indonesia and the U.S. I have not been involved in any road accident.

That is quite an achievement for anyone whose been driving in Malaysia. Malaysia ranks as one of the highest for road accidents in the World. It has very little to do with the quality of the roads. It is a result of the attitude of Malaysian drivers.

A large percentage of Malaysian road accidents could have been avoided if Malaysian drivers are patient, considerate and courteous. Many drivers do not understand that skills differ when driving on a highway, a road in town or through the countryside.

On the highway, I have often observed drivers falling off to sleep while driving their vehicles. Watch the direction of his front wheel before you decide to pass the vehicle. If you notice that his wheel is moving towards the center of the road and in a matter of seconds the vehicle will be in your right of way, slow down your car, honk and do not pass that vehicle. The driver is obviously drowsy and is not conscious about the direction of his vehicle.

Another simple yet important rule on the highway is to repeatedly look at the rear mirror. Everything that moves along the highway is doing it at great speeds. This scenario keeps changing all the time. What is approaching from behind is equally important as to what is immediately ahead.

I always have a problem with Malaysian roadsigns along the  highways and also the roads in the towns and cities. I do not believe that the Authorities have done anything to correct it till this very day.

It is where the road signboards are positioned. I shall stop and take photographs during my journey this time and publish them here later. From these pictures, you would understand how these road signboards are a potential cause for road accidents.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS