Stricter vehicle inspections not enough without enforcement, say experts
This was emphasised by Associate Professor Dr Law Teik Hua, head of the Road Safety Research Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
"Enforcement is too often inconsistent or reactive, typically only after incidents, which weakens its deterrent effect.
"Tighter regulations, like deeper tire tread and sideboards, work only if they are regularly and randomly inspected," he said when contacted by the "New Straits Times".
Law said that enforcement agencies must be equipped with personnel and technology to conduct inspections, especially at highway entries and exits, as well as industrial zones.
"Consistent follow-through and appropriate penalties are crucial.
"Severe sanctions, such as licence suspension or vehicle impoundment, must be implemented for non-compliance.
However, Law said that without transparent, data-driven enforcement, stricter regulations may become merely symbolic.
He also highlighted the need to address systemic issues by placing greater responsibility on companies that operate heavy vehicles.
"Employers often take shortcuts, which put pressure on drivers to meet tight delivery deadlines, operate poorly maintained vehicles or skip breaks.
"Companies must be held accountable for their hiring practices, safety training and vehicle maintenance," he added, calling for stronger corporate responsibility.
Law said that safety reforms may not bear fruit unless fleet operators and logistics firms are held responsible.
Commenting on the recent crash in Sungai Buloh, where a lorry collided with a motorcycle and roadside stalls, Law said the incident highlights safety concerns, particularly the dangers heavy vehicles pose in pedestrian-heavy zones.
He praised the emergency response but stressed the importance of improved traffic management, stricter zoning for heavy vehicles, safer roadside setups and smarter urban planning to protect road users.
Professor Wong Shaw Voon, chairman of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), agreed with Law, emphasising that road safety requires involvement not just from the government, but also from industry players and the public.
"If regulations are not enforced, it's as good as having none at all."
Wong said that companies are ultimately responsible for managing drivers, vehicles and transport schedules.
"Have companies truly done their best to adopt safer operating standards? Some may claim ignorance, while others prefer not to know.
"Often, companies only learn the hard way — when one of their vehicles is involved in a crash that results in fatalities.
"Yet, established standards like ISO 39001 (Road Traffic Safety Management System) already exist.
"Why wait to learn from a bad experience when the standard is already available?"
Wong said there is a need for government mechanisms to ensure companies conduct safe operations, while denying the perception that deadly accidents have no impact on a business' bottom line.
"The impact (of an accident) is not business as usual.
"If a company is involved in a fatal crash, it risks losing the trust and business of its customers
"Companies must understand this. While a tragedy may not happen today, operating unsafely will eventually come at a cost."
Yesterday, Datuk Aedly Fadly Ramli, director-general of the Road Transport Department, announced stricter inspection procedures for heavy vehicles.
These include requirements for increased tyre tread depth and sideboards that align with each vehicle's permit and technical specifications.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Experts praise plan to reduce reliance on roads
Railway overhaul: A file photo of KTMB cargo containers parked on tracks near the Setia Jaya station in Petaling Jaya. Experts say rail freight infrastructure needs to be improved to support the government's plan to shift more people and cargo away from roads under 13MP. PETALING JAYA: Transport experts are optimistic about the positive effects of the government's plan to shift more people and cargo away from roads under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). Road safety expert Law Teik Hua said the government's plan to push for increased adoption of its road-to-rail initiative was necessary to reduce heavy traffic on busy highways. 'This is a good first step towards reducing dependence on road transport by getting the logistics sector to switch from only transporting goods using large trucks. 'This may take a lot of load off key roadways like the North-South Expressway, resulting in lower carbon emissions as well,' he said. However, Law said for the plan to work, rail freight infrastructure needs to be improved so that it can compete with vehicles in terms of cost, flexibility and reliability. 'People can also lose faith in rail as a viable option if there are delays in maintenance or service,' said Law, who heads Universiti Putra Malaysia's Road Safety Research Centre. He also praised the government's plan to add 300 Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) vans, 217 new train sets, and over 1,000 new buses to the public transport ecosystem. 'This is a big step towards fixing the last-mile connectivity problem. 'By reducing the existing load on extremely congested routes like the LRT Kelana Jaya and MRT Kajang lines, passengers might finally see wait times between trains cut down to reasonable periods and less overcrowding. 'This would make rail travel much more comfortable, convenient and competitive. 'But infrastructure, maintenance and integration too must be updated and modernised to keep up with the growing fleet,' he added. Malaysian Public Transport Users Association president Ajit Johl said the push to get logistics companies' trucks off the roads would help reduce accident cases. 'The challenge now will be on the government's ability to get these companies to come on board, as rail transportation may not be feasible for all forms of cargo. 'Last-mile delivery challenges might also be an issue, so we suggest setting up a task force to learn why rail usage is low,' he said. However, Ajit said the government must consider removing or lowering the current fuel subsidy once the planned increase in the number of trains and buses is operational. 'It would not make much sense to continue subsidising petrol at such low prices if they want to encourage public transport adoption,' he added. Zac Cheong, vice secretary of Transit Malaysia, acknowledged that increased public transportation is a positive step. 'In countries like Hong Kong and Singapore, they have between 5,000 and 8,000 buses. 'If we want these services to be efficient, we need a large number of buses and vans, especially in the Klang Valley. Otherwise, it will not be impactful,' said Cheong. He highlighted that with a Klang Valley population of around 10 million, the public transport services must match this scale to truly benefit the people. Cheong also suggested that if a DRT service proves popular in a certain area, a dedicated bus service should be introduced to accommodate the demand. This comes after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government would focus on promoting its road-to-rail initiative to shift cargo transport away from roads with the goal of raising rail usage to 13%.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
JB car washes reclassified as high-risk over Singapore-only allegations
JOHOR BARU: Car wash centres in the city have been reclassified as high-risk businesses following repeated breaches of regulations, prompting tighter licensing conditions and stricter enforcement by the Johor Baru City Council. Its mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said the decision was made during a recent meeting of the council's licensing committee, in response to persistent non-compliance among operators. "Operators have consistently failed to adhere to wastewater treatment standards, caused damage to public roads, and neglected to maintain proper premises. "They will now be subject to increased scrutiny, including mandatory worker registration and infrastructure inspections," he said after chairing its full council meeting at Menara MBJB today. He warned that failure to comply could result in licence suspension or cancellation under existing laws and regulations. The move follows public backlash over a car wash outlet in Taman Abad that allegedly prioritised Singapore-registered vehicles while turning away local customers. A viral post last week claimed that foreign workers at the outlet had refused to service Malaysian cars, citing "full bookings from Singaporean clients". In response, Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor instructed all local councils to take firm action against outlets that exclusively served foreigners, calling such practices unacceptable and grounds for licence termination. Haffiz said the city council's enforcement officers had conducted checks but found no formal complaints lodged, and the claims remained unsubstantiated. "We are monitoring the situation closely. If such discriminatory practices are confirmed, we will revoke the licence," he said, adding that premium 'water wax' services, priced from RM40, were being marketed primarily to Singaporean customers. Earlier, the New Straits Times reported that some outlets charged up to RM80 for "water wax" treatments. There are currently 543 licensed car wash outlets operating under the city council's jurisdiction. Last year, 53 unlicensed centres were shut down. As of June this year, a further 33 illegal operators have been identified and are being dealt with.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
Johor car wash operators face boycott over alleged Singapore bias
JOHOR BARU: Several car wash operators near a major shopping mall in Taman Abad are feeling the impact of a local boycott, following viral claims that they prioritise Singapore-registered vehicles over Malaysian ones. The backlash began after a video posted last Friday alleged that a car wash centre in the area had refused to accept local vehicles, claiming all its slots were booked exclusively by Singaporean customers. In the days since, business has dropped sharply, with local motorists avoiding the area out of frustration over alleged discriminatory service practices and inflated prices. Rana Sheikh Ali, 46, a Bangladeshi supervisor at one of the affected car washes, denied the allegations, insisting that most outlets especially smaller and mid-tier ones, served all customers equally. "It's unfair to lump all operators together because of a few 'premium' car washes that turn away locals, especially on weekends and holidays," he told the New Straits Times. Rana said that before the viral post, his centre typically washed between 50 and 70 cars on weekends, with Malaysians making up about 60 per cent of that number. "Now, we're getting fewer than 10 Malaysian-registered cars a day," he said. The most basic services remain affordably priced, he added. The centre charged RM12 for standard cars and RM15 for larger vehicles. Optional 'water wax' treatments range between RM50 and RM80. Malaysian Abdul Rahim Jamian, 43, said he once paid RM62 after pressured into taking the extra service. "I've stopped going there. Many of us now drive to car washes in the outskirts, where prices are reasonable and without forced add-ons," he said. The controversy prompted a response housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor. He warned that any outlet found refusing to serve locals could l "This is unacceptable. Car wash operators in Johor must serve everyone fairly," he was quoted as saying. Operators now fear that the boycott could extend further, affecting not just weekend traffic but also regular weekday customers. Rana, meanwhile, appealed to the public not to punish all centres based on the actions of a few. "We are just trying to make a living. If this continues, many workers here will lose their jobs," he said. The local authorities are expected to begin inspections and review licensing compliance in the coming days.
