INDIVIDUAL CASE STUDY

ROAD ACCIDENTS IN MALAYSIA

BY: MUHAMMAD AMIR SYAFIQ BIN MUSTAFA KAMAL (A18CS0125)

        Road accident is not a new issue in Malaysia. It is like an illness that doesn’t have any effective cure to overcome it. Road accident give a huge impact and for sure a trauma to all the road users. Each day, either in newspaper, social media, or in the daily news on television, it is very common to see that there will be a case being reported about peoples who involved in a road accident. But, first of all, what does it means by road accident? There’s a lot of definition that can be figured out for the road accident. However, the most common one, a road accident refers to any accident involving at least one road vehicle, occurring on a road open to public circulation, and in which at least one person is injured or killed, where intentional acts such as murder, suicide, and natural disasters are excluded (Definition - Road Accident | Insee, 2016). According to Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), in 2015, 489,606 road crashes were registered in Malaysia, with 6706 fatalities, 4120 severe injuries and 7432 slight injuries. However, the real numbers are certainly much higher than the recorded ones, especially in cases involving low injury severity or minor damage.

       In another statistic, motorcyclists have been identified as the most vulnerable road user because they contribute to about 50 per cent of the total victims. In order to overcome certain issues or problem, firstly we need to verify or identify what are the causes or the factors that mainly make the issues and problems to occur. First and foremost, one of the main causes of the road accident is by the road user’s behavior. What does it mean by the road user’s behavior? It is actually means on how the road users attitude and behavior when they are on the road. Mostly, around 70 percent of the road accidents that happen in Malaysia are basically caused by the road user itself. As we know, we as a human are not perfect and always make a mistake. But, what make the thing worst is we tend to blame others instead of ourselves when a problem occurs by our own mistake. This is the same as what is actually happen regarding the road accident. They as the road user are actually making that mistake such as speeding in driving exceeds the specified speed limit that later on will causes the road accident. However, when the road accident occur, they didn’t realize that it is actually happen because of their own mistakes, instead, what they are do is, they blame the others for making that problems happen. This is why it is said that the causes of the road accident are mainly by the victim’s selfish behavior itself.

             Aside from that, another cause of road accident which is also related to the road user’s behavior is driving in drowsiness. This is also one of the main causes of the road accident. They are feeling sleepy but still, they continue driving instead of getting some rest until at last their wrong decision make them involved with a road accident. Based on the statistic, most of the road accidents that happen especially during a night are caused by the tired and sleepy drivers. When they are tired or sleepy, they can’t focus on their driving. This is actually what makes the road accident occur. The worst causes of road accident are driving under the influence of alcohol. This causes is usually involves the non-Muslims driver. Other than that, another cause of road accident related to the road user’s attitude and behavior are driving carelessly and recklessly while talking on a cell phone, eating while driving as well as breaking the road rules and laws. They don’t realize that because of that small mistakes and their selfishness action, it will cause the road accident.  Besides that, another factor of the road accident is related to the technical problem of the vehicle either a car, motorcycles, buses, or any other type of vehicles. The problems occur involve the vehicle’s part but usually the most common one that related to the road accidents are the brakes and tires. There are many cases being reported about the road accident that caused by the vehicle problems such as brakes and tires malfunction.

            On the other hand, the increasing numbers of the vehicle and the road users also being identified as one of the causes of the road accident. It is because the increasing numbers of vehicle indirectly will also increase the possibilities of the road accident to occur. This can be seen in every main festive season in Malaysia especially during Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali, as well as Christmas where’s a lot of road accident that involve several vehicles and causes a lot of death being reported frequently. In addition, another cause of road accident that can’t be doubted is the road malfunction. This is actually happen when the road user unluckily have to face the bad condition road such as potholes and un flat road that can’t be avoid which will make they lost the control of their vehicles. Last but not least, weather also one of the factors that make the road accident occur. This can be seen during bad weather especially on the raining days which will make the road surface become smooth and also limited the driver’s view during their driving.

            Just like what being stated earlier, it is almost impossible to overcome this issues because there’s no certain solution that are effective which can prevent this issues from occur. However, there’s several ways that can at least reduce the possibilities of road accident from happen. First of all, in term of the road user itself, they can reduce the possibilities of road accident by using their brain rationally on the road. What I’m trying to say is they have to think wisely as they know what the good and bad actions are while they’re on the road. They have to change their mentality first before hoping that this issue will be solved. Drive carefully and don’t do anything else while driving that can disturbs their focus on driving. Just focus on driving and remember that just a small mistake can give a bigger impact on their life. Make sure to follow all the road rules and regulation. Besides that, another ways that can be taken to reduce the possibilities of road accident from occur is by doing the vehicle services regularly, especially before started a long journey. It is because most of the road accidents occur that caused by vehicle malfunction are actually influenced by how often the user completely doing their vehicle services. That’s why their vehicle tends to have problems whenever they are on the road. The fewer they do their vehicle’s services and maintenance, the higher the possibilities of their vehicles to have a problems, and the higher the possibilities of the road accident to occur. So, no matter how busy they are, they have to remember to do their vehicle’s maintenance and services regularly or at least each time before they started their long journey.

             Other than that, another ways that can be conducted are campaign and talk about road accident that mainly involved the road users in order to increase their awareness on how serious issues are the road accident currently in Malaysia. It is because most of them doesn’t realized about this things. So, with some campaign and talk that being conducted by government surely will make they realize about this issues and then, they will do their part as the road user to reduce the possibilities of the road accident from occur. In addition, another ways that can be taken are by doing the maintenance and services of the road regularly. The authorities or anyone who’re responsible with the road’s maintenance and services need to do their role to make sure the road is always in a good condition. If not, the worst condition of the road structure that is dangerous for the user will then cause the road accident. Aside from that, another ways that also can reduce the possibilities of the road accident from occur can be done by the traffic policeman with by increasing the patrolling roads across Malaysia to track traffic offenses committed by the road users. It is because when there are patrolling that being conducted regularly, mostly the road user will be more behave when there are on the road. Indirectly, the possibilities of the road accident to occur will be decrease because of the road user attitude and behaviors that are good and disciplined when they realize that there will be many patrolling being conducted at all times.

            In conclusion, we can actually see how serious this road accident issues rather than the other common issues in Malaysia. There is no perfect solution to overcome this issue because it keeps on increasing day by day. However, there is certain ways that can at least reduce this issue from keeps growing up and all that ways will required all the parties either the road user itself, the authorities, as well as the government to do their role and part in order to make sure all the ways being conducted will be successful. From this issue also, I realize on how important are the human attitude and behavior that can actually give a big impact to this issue. Just a small mistake and action, can actually contribute to the road accident but with a small action also, can avoid the road accident from happen. So, what can be concluded here is it actually all started from our own self. If we want a changes, so we need to change our self first before we can start change and do anything else. No matter how hard it will be, as long as if there is a will, there will be a ways.

REFERENCES

Definition - Road Accident | Insee. (13 10, 2016). Retrieved 08 12, 2018, from https://www.insee.fr/en/metadonnees/definition/c1116

Noor Azreena Kamaluddin, M. F. (2018). Matching of police and hospital road crash casualty records – a data-linkage study. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety , 9.

Noor Wahida Md Junus, M. T. (2017). Malaysia Road Accidents Influences Based on Structural. Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences , 11.

Police, R. M. (2018). Royal Malaysia Police. Retrieved 08 12, 2018, from The Official Portal of Royal Malaysia Police: http://www.rmp.gov.my/

Yusria Darma, M. R. (2017). An analysis of Malaysia road traffic death distribution by road environment. Indian Academy of Sciences , 11.