I scolded her for not responding to me earlier but instead of apologising, she angrily said: “Wait for a few minutes, can die meh?” . — Thomas Foo, frustrated driver whose car was blocked by a double-parked vehicle
I woke up early yesterday to have a plate of my favourite wanton mee near a kopitiam in Petaling Jaya, not far from the place I am staying.
After half an hour I settled the bill and left the coffeshop to rush off to meet up with a friend in Shah Alam. I was already running late. But a double-parked car put paid to my planned meeting.
I had to cancel the appointment because it took nearly 15 minutes of honking for a 30-something idiot to respond to me and move his Volkswagen. And by which time I knew it was too late to keep the appointment, knowing the traffic situation on a Sunday morning.
He didn’t even have the courtesy to apologise. Instead, he coolly got into his car and proceeded to start the engine. That made me furious and I opened the driver’s door and gave him a mouthful. Expletives and four-letter words were flowing freely. At one stage when he started arguing I almost lost control of myself and felt like raining blows to his face.
Most of us are no strangers to double parking. It’s very common in our country and can be very frustrating; it could even lead to a situation similar to road rage incidents.
Still remember the incident some years ago in Bentong, Pahang, where a 4WD driver reversed his vehicle into a double parked Myvi that was blocking him? And another incident of an enraged lorry driver who rammed into 18 cars that were blocking his way?
I know it’s wrong to take the law into one’s own hands. This form of vigilante justice does not hold up in the eyes of the law. But if the problem keeps showing up every now and then, what are we to do?
Yes, be patient and let the authorities take action. But there appears to be no end to the problem. People are nonchalant and the authorities are always very slow to act!
Now, what is double parking? Double parking means leaving a car next to a row of cars that have already been parked.
It is tempting to leave a car parked like this if the parking spaces are occupied or if one’s only stopping for a short while. But remember, it’s illegal to park one’s vehicle next to another vehicle which is properly parked in a car space or street so much so that it prevents that vehicle from leaving or obstructs the flow of traffic.
The people who have legally parked their vehicles might have important meetings to attend to. But if they are blocked from leaving, then it’s always most likely that they will have to skip the meetings, like in my unfortunate situation yesterday.
In Malaysia, double parking is illegal and is normally dealt with by the local authority or the traffic police. Double parking is listed as a traffic violation punishable by a fine. Or your vehicle can be towed away. But because of poor enforcement, citizens adopt a couldn’t-care-less attitude!
Okay, ever wondered whose fault it would be if we hit a double-parked car, whether by accident or intentionally? We can always say the car shouldn’t be blocking our vehicles in the first place, right?
Anyway, it will still be our fault! So, let’s control ourselves.
We can be compounded under LN166/59 Rule 10 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 (Falling asleep while driving or failing to control your vehicle’s movements well), where we will have to fork out RM300.
Let’s go back to the lorry driver who rammed into 18 parked vehicles I mentioned earlier. He was charged under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Under this section, a person who drives a motor vehicle without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users could be fined between RM4,000 and RM10,000. The offender can also be jailed for up to 12 months.
What about if it was a genuine accident and it was not on purpose? The law says we are at fault as the law assumes that there is enough space for us to pass through. Anyway, it will be up to the traffic police to decide.
Hey, hang on there! What about the double-parked car? According to the law, it is at fault too.
The owner of the double-parked car will not get away scot-free! On top of the illegally parked car being towed away, the inconsiderate driver will be fined RM300.
He will also be charged under Section 48(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for allowing his vehicle to cause danger or obstruction to other users of the road or to traffic.
Malaysians, sometimes, can be very inconsiderate. Curbing double parking or stopping illegal parking will be difficult. What the authorities can do is to enforce strictly the existing laws and book the offenders, and patrol busy areas.
Also teach the offenders a painful lesson by increasing the fines and embarrass them by towing away their vehicles.
