NST Leader: Fix dangerous roads before the protests
THERE are killer stretches on roads and highways all over the country, which may be the result of poor design. The danger is aggravated by drivers who like to take liberties with little regard for safety.
National Solidarity Party (NST) leader Othman Ishak has called for urgent action to fix dangerous roads before public protests escalate. The issue of killer stretches on roads and highways is a growing concern, with poor design and reckless driving contributing to the problem. Local councils and the Public Works Department are responsible for identifying and addressing these hazardous stretches, but they face significant challenges.
Recent events, such as the use of mock coffins and graves in a protest along Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari in Shah Alam, highlight the public's frustration and anxiety over road safety. This protest was sparked by a series of accidents involving heavy vehicles and a 12-vehicle pile-up on October 9, resulting in four injuries. The mock coffins and graves represent a new low in public road safety, as residents are forced to resort to such dramatic measures to draw attention to the issue.
The lack of a proposed 5km flyover, initially proposed 15 years ago, is also a contributing factor to the recurring accidents. Similar protests have occurred over the past decade, with residents demanding action to address their concerns. Examples include stalled sewerage works in Taman Melawati, speed bumps in Kuching, and safety measures in Ipoh.
These protests underscore the need for preventive action rather than reactive crisis management. Road safety should not be a matter of waiting for a tragedy to strike before action is taken. Authorities must allocate budgetary resources to repair dangerous road stretches and prevent future incidents.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
