{
  "id": 2890647,
  "title": "'Sirens shouldn't override traffic rules,' say experts [WATCH]",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/sirens-shouldnt-override-traffic-rules-say-experts-watch",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T23:00:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/1517404/sirens-shouldnt-override-traffic-rules-say-experts-watch"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Emergency vehicle and VIP escort sirens and beacon lights require a review to ensure public safety is not compromised by giving traffic priority, according to experts. They argue for clear, consistent criteria on when these devices can be used, who is authorized to do so, and the circumstances under which they should be activated. Such privileges should be seen as necessary operations, not automatic entitlements based on rank. Escort movements must also be safer and more predictable for other road users, with standard procedures covering speed, lane changes, overtaking, and intersections that give motorists enough time to react. Associate Professor Dr Law Teik Hua, head of the Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre, suggests the review should examine how escort movements are carried out, as the main danger lies in how priority movements are executed, especially at intersections where ordinary drivers may not know the location of the escort vehicle or other stopped vehicles. While sirens and beacons indicate priority, drivers still need to follow standard road safety practices. Dr P. Sundramoorthy, a senior criminologist, proposes a three-tier framework for VIP and emergency movements, prioritizing security, operational necessity, and ceremonial or protocol movements. Rank should not automatically grant an entitlement to priority. The Road Transport Department already regulates the use of special warning lights, specifying authorized categories. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, a member of the Road Safety Council and social activist, echoes the need for a full review, emphasizing that VIP escorts and some emergency vehicles often put other drivers at risk by braking hard, swerving, or slowing down abruptly, sometimes with insufficient time to react safely. He stresses that these safety tools are not symbols of status, and every road user, regardless of rank, deserves to travel safely and should drive with care.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The rules governing the use of sirens and beacon lights by emergency vehicles and VIP escorts need a review to ensure traffic priority does not compromise public safety, experts said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}