Common Examples Of Poor Driving Seen Daily

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I HAVE been driving for the past 56 years. People of my age have been singled out by Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua who has called for mandatory assessments for elderly drivers to improve road safety.
Mercifully, Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli confirmed recently that the driving licence renewal process for senior citizens will continue to follow existing regulations and standard operating procedures under the Road Transport Act 1987.
In any case, changes should not be made based on increasing road accidents involving senior citizens or mere perception.
The sector most affected is the motor insurance industry which pays out compensation for property damage, death, injuries, medical expenses, and loss of income.
If the risks are overly high for covering elderly drivers, insurers would have imposed a loading on the premium commensurate with the likelihood of accidents, which would deter them from driving. Such measures are not warranted based on industry-wide claims records.
In the past, the Malaysian Motor Insurance Pool, which was set up to insure high-risk commercial vehicles, limited coverage to drivers up to 65 years old. However, the age limit was lifted following amendments made in 2016.
Nevertheless, intervention may be necessary for motorists who drive poorly and motorcyclists who ride recklessly, regardless of age.
Whenever I take a drive, I can easily count the scores of vehicles and bikes that ought to be handled better for smoother traffic flow and road safety.
For example, on a two-lane road, some motorists before turning left at the traffic lights will veer towards the right, sometimes intruding into the right lane, when other vehicles are rushing past before the lights turn yellow or red.
These drivers could have gone over the kerb before and are giving it a wide berth. There is no need for such manoeuvres as even bus and lorry drivers would be driving straight and keeping to the left lane all the time, before turning left while passing the junction.
Then there are motorists taking their own sweet time to drive past traffic lights with no concern for the long line of traffic following behind as other drivers wish to clear before the light turns red. They include some who could turn at the traffic lights so slowly that they seem to be hovering.
Motorists driving very slowly and keeping to the left lane is acceptable, but not if they keep stepping on the brakes when there are no vehicles in front of them. I will overtake them as soon as I can, as such drivers are unpredictable and may suddenly do the unexpected.
(Image: Motorist Malaysia)I do not exceed the speed limits on highways but drive briskly on city streets. However, I seldom use the brakes as I would slow down long before the car comes to a halt. My car has reached 240,000km and the brake pads were replaced only once but not the rear brake shoes.
I use a technique called coasting with the car rolling on free gear and stepping on the brakes gently to slow it further when necessary or stop it altogether. It requires good judgement and is not recommended for ordinary drivers. So far, the clutch assembly was replaced only once.
Over the years, I have driven more than a million kilometres and did not crash into any vehicle or person.
In recent years, I made “own damage knock-for-knock” claims twice without losing the maximum 55% “no claim discount (NCD)” because the collisions were not my fault.
To practise defensive driving, one must plan and look far ahead. This will allow drivers to switch lanes safely and not abruptly, or to slow down instead of continuing at the same speed, only to brake hard at the last moment to stop behind vehicles in front or at the traffic lights.
If the light is green from a distance, it would be dangerous to drive at high speed to pass through the lights, as braking very hard at the last moment could render the vehicle out of control or could crash into a vehicle that takes off like a race car the moment the light turns green.
A split second can separate a collision and a near miss. While it can be avoided with quick reflexes and skills, the main factors are judgement and habit. While exceeding the speed limit in a well-maintained and modern car can still be safe, rushing in the city is always dangerous.
This is especially true when an unseen child is behind a reversing car at the house compound. Likewise, it is very dangerous to walk behind cars parked adjacent to each other, as drivers will only look in the direction where traffic is coming and will quickly reverse when there is a gap.
The list is endless, the above are common examples seen daily. 
YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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