When Stinging On Vehicle Maintenance Costs Could Have Led To Tragic Bukit Kajang Toll Accident

---

 
MANY who watched the horrific CCTV clip of Saturdsay’s (Sept 27) horrendous crash at the Bukit Kajang toll would have been shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy.
According to the New Straits Times, the crash killed a toddler and injured seven others.
“The (lorry) driver lost control and ploughed into three vehicles entering lanes eight and nine of the toll plaza,” Kajang police chief Assistant Commissioner Naazron Abdul Yusof revealed in a statement.
@beritaalhijrah114
Detik nahas empat kenderaan di Plaza Tol Bukit Kajang, di Kajang, pagi tadi, berjaya dirakam menerusi rakaman litar tertutup (CCTV). Nahas tersebut mengakibatkan seorang bayi berusia 12 bulan maut sementara lapan lagi cedera dalam nahas melibatkan sebuah lori tiga tan, kenderaan pacuan empat roda milik Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR), kereta Honda City dan Proton X70. Tekan link untuk berita penuh.
♬ original sound – Berita AlHijrah – Berita AlHijrah


“A one-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene while seven others were rushed to Kajang Hospital, Serdang Hospital and KPJ Kajang Specialist Hospital.”
The 42-year-old driver has claimed brake failure which led to him to jump from the vehicle before it crashed.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless or dangerous driving causing death. The offence carries up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of RM50,000 and a minimum five-year driving ban.
Many netizens have expressed anger over the incident with some querying yet another tragic accident involving heavy vehicles had come to pass.
One such individual is digital entrepreneur Richard Ker who asked why was the lorry even allowed on the road when it supposedly had issues with its brakes.

It was surmised that too many vehicles that are no road worthy are allowed onto public roads sans proper maintenance or inspections, just to save a penny.
The Tawau-raised electronic engineering alumni from University of Surrey simply concluded: “The truth is … many business owners don’t care about safety.”
The self-described digital storyteller asked: “If you’re that business owner – How do you sleep at night, knowing your mistake has killed a child … and destroyed a family?”
Given that the tragedy has caught public attention, the post has already generated 16K likes, 1.4K comments and 4.4K shares at time of publication. Many were keen to share suggestions on how to improve the scenario.
Top of the list was to install speed limiters on heavy vehicles as well as dash cams.

Given that the driver had prior convictions for drug offences, it was also said that certain lorry and bus drivers resort to illicit substances to stay awake and alert to maximise the number of trips.
It was suggested that the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) audit the number of working hours of these drivers.


A few shared experiences abroad – notably in Australia and Japan – to highlight the difference in attitudes towards road safety.

At the end of the day, it was surmised that the pursuit of profit over all else is the cause of this malaise.

Will there ever be the political will to improve matters? This follows the high-profile tragic accidents in Teluk Intan on May 13 that killed nine FRU personnel as well as the bus crash that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in Gerik on June 9 – both involving heavy vehicles suspected of not being road worthy.



Until real and meaningful action is taken, Malaysian fatal accident stats will continue to resemble those from war zones. –  Focus Malaysia

---