KUCHING: Abide by road safety regulations and drive carefully to avoid accidents this coming festive season.
The advice came from the head of Sarawak Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, Supt Alexson Naga Chabu who urged road users, especially long distant travellers to plan their journeys and have enough rest or be accompanied by a second driver.
“Avoid taking drinks or medicines that can cause drowsiness. Also try to avoid negative actions or feelings like quarreling or getting angry before driving,” he said.
He said vehicles used for long journeys must also be checked thoroughly to ensure that they are in tip-top conditions.
More road safety tips from Alexson:
- Start your journey early and wear seatbelts.
- Drivers must refrain from using mobile phones
- Young children must be placed in baby chairs.
- Don’t overload your cars and ensure that you obey all the traffic rules.
- For those travelling at night, drivers must ensure their vehicles are suitable for night driving.
- Turn on your car lights and ensure that they are all working.
- It is best to use low beam when driving to prevent drivers from the opposition direction to lose their view.
- Drivers should also not increase speed at night as it is difficult for them to see the road, especially bends and corners.
- When it rains, drivers must reduce speed immediately as some drivers tend to lose control of their vehicles when speeding on wet road surface.
- The speed limit in Sarawak is not more than 80kmh.
- If it is raining heavily the drivers may switch on the fog lights of their vehicles so that they can see each other more clearly.
- Make sure your vehicle is 100 metres (four seconds) from the vehicle in front.
- Do not turn on the emergency lights when your vehicle is moving.
On emergency signals, Alexson said they should only be used when drivers stop on the emergency lane.
“However, try to avoid stopping on an emergency lane because other drivers may find it hard to see your vehicle,” he said.
Alexson said it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure not only his passengers’ safety but also that of the other road users’.
Stressed that speeding is the main cause of road accidents, he warned road users not to speed as “they have families and relatives waiting for them at the end of their journey.”
