Punish drivers of heavy vehicles who exceed hour limits, says Miros

A deputy principal, a school assistant, a teacher and a tour bus driver died when the bus and a trailer collided in Muadzam Shah on Monday. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) has called for stricter enforcement and harsher penalties for heavy vehicle drivers who exceed their driving hour limits.

Its chairman, Wong Shaw Voon, said driver fatigue was a major contributor to road accidents, noting that legal limits allow a maximum of eight hours of driving per day, extendable to 12 hours with a mandatory rest day following.

“Drivers need proper rest to prevent fatigue-related accidents, and employers must ensure their drivers operate within safe working conditions, as required by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad),” he told FMT.

According to Section 201 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, anyone who intentionally or negligently endangers the safety of passengers on a public service vehicle, including buses and lorries, can face a fine of up to RM50,000 or seven years imprisonment, or both.

Under Section 202, rash or negligent acts without a lawful excuse can result in a fine up to RM2,000 or six months imprisonment, or both.

Wong also called for harsher penalties such as the revocation of drivers’ licences and suspension or revocation of operating licences for companies that fail to comply.

On Monday, a tour bus carrying a group of teachers from SK Jeram in Masjid Tanah, Melaka, was involved in an accident at Jalan Kuantan-Segamat near the Bahau junction in Muadzam Shah.

Four people died and 35 were injured after the tour bus reportedly overturned on a road slope after losing control and crashing into a trailer transporting steel coils.

Wong also pointed out that roads must be designed with appropriate speed limits, and proper barriers need to be installed based on the type of traffic they handle.

“Regular reviews and upgrades are necessary, especially if the traffic volume or type changes over time,” he said.

He stressed the importance of installing the right type of barriers, whether flexible or concrete, to prevent vehicles from crossing over into oncoming traffic.

Meanwhile, road safety expert Suret Singh proposed that all buses operating nighttime journeys should be equipped with seatbelts to enhance passenger safety.

“Since witness accounts indicate the bus was swerving before hitting the trailer, it suggests a sleepy and fatigued driver.

“Buses should also be equipped with digital cameras to detect drowsy drivers. These systems should include alarms to wake both the driver and passengers if signs of fatigue are detected,” he said.

Law Teik Hua of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s road safety research centre said the use of black boxes or electronic logging devices in heavy vehicles can help monitor and enforce compliance with driving hour regulations, providing valuable data for enforcement and accountability.

He also said specific maintenance practices that could help prevent these types of accidents include regular inspections of critical components such as brakes, tires, steering systems, and suspension.

“Training programmes for drivers should also emphasise the importance of vehicle maintenance and how to conduct thorough pre-trip inspections,” he said.