You often hear the calls for stricter penalties to be imposed on lorry drivers or transport companies found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of their vehicles, most notably after a spate of incidents, but these are usually from safety experts, academics and authorities. Given all that has been happening on the roads of late, here’s that usual commentary again, but this time coming from a lorry operators association.
As the New Straits Times reports, the call to address the matter has been made by the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Lorry Operators Association (SKLLOA), with its secretary-general Alvin Choong saying that stricter action could address the ongoing issues that continue to tarnish the industry’s reputation. This includes enforcement on offences related to overloading that lead to accidents.
“What is truly important is the enforcement of strict and severe penalties against irresponsible lorry drivers and operators. Innocent lives are lost due to negligence and greed, as they overload their lorries. This is one of the main causes of brake system failure, tyre issues and mechanical damage,” he told Buletin TV3.
Choong said that there were lorry operators who deliberately ignore the standard operating procedures (SOP) and intentionally overload their vehicles. As such, he said, stricter enforcement measures are necessary to ensure the safety of other road users.
“Some lorry operators are forced to overload due to intense competition. According to the Road Transport Act 1987, if a lorry is overloaded, it should not be allowed to continue its journey. Instead, the excess load must be transferred to another lorry,” he stated.
“If this is enforced, lorries will no longer carry excessive loads and create problems for other road users. However, this is not being done, even though the SOP and regulations have been in place since the Road Transport Act was introduced in 1987,” he added.
His statement comes following the multiple vehicle crash that occurred on the North-South expressway near Alor Gajah on December 23, which resulted in the loss of seven lives and injury to 33 others. The accident was caused by a tyre that had detached from a lorry trailer that a tour bus then collided with, causing the chain of events that led to the tragedy.
Following transport minister Anthony Loke’s probe order made on Christmas Eve, the road transport department (JPJ) is investigating and auditing the vehicle companies involved in the incident. The police have also recorded the statement of the lorry driver to help determine if there were elements of negligence that resulted in one of the lorry’s tyres being dislodged.
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