Safety Features On The Dash Highway Need To Be Enhanced

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THERE have been many accidents lately on the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) involving motorcyclists who hit the side barrier and plunged to their deaths 20 metres below.
A cursory look at the highway appears to give the impression that it is an impressive highway that provides road users safe travel from Puncak Alam to Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.
However, to motorcyclists it may not be safe enough as shown by the three very similar accidents.
There is a need to study how the accidents—one in February involving a female motorcyclist and two more in July and August—occurred and whether there are any shortcomings that need to be addressed.
The DASH highway may be safe to cars, lorries and other vehicles but motorcyclists face a risky ride if they are not careful especially when speeding as there are fewer vehicles on the highway except during peak times.
The elevated highway is the preferred route for travel from Subang, Puncak Perdana and Sungai Buloh to Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur as it shortens time and distance.
I find that the side barriers especially on the up and down ramps at various sections of the highway to be short and need to be made higher.
This is to prevent motorcyclists and even other vehicles to be thrown down from the elevated highway in case of an accident such as hitting the side barrier or kerb when they are unable to control their vehicles.
The sound barriers along the highway are high to ward off noise and pollution to nearby houses and buildings. Similarly the side barriers need to be raised or railings installed to prevent further tragedies.
Falling down from a height of 20 metres on to the ground brings instant death and this was what happened to the three unfortunate motorcyclists whose deaths are so similar to one another.
Prolintas, the operator of the DASH highway, and the Malaysian Highway Authority need to investigate these accidents and come with additional safety measures such as higher kerbs and speed retardants at riskier sections of the highway.
More signboards highlighting the need for speed limits and other warnings could be installed to prevent accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities. 
V. Thomas
Sungai Buloh, Selangor
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT. 
- Focus Malaysia

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