22 January 2010

Wipers for safety

Motor vehicles feature 3 levels of windscreen wiper speed,and this

has not changed over   the decades although almost all other   aspects

of the motor car have been technologicaly updated .

The 3 levels of speed need to have one more added befitting local rain

condiitions.As is well known Malaysia has a high level of rainfall

.The wiper speed modes presently are slow,medium and fast and   it is

very necessary   to have one more added between the slow and medium

speeds.From observation over   the years, I have found that when one

swithches the wipers at slow speed during a drizzle one has to switch

again to medium mode because of the excess rain drops on the

windscreen.However ,after a few seconds the windscreen is dry because

the faster speed has wiped out all the water on the windscreen.This is

because there is no speed level between the slow and medium levels

which would have been appropriate.The driver has to continue doing

this for the entire duration of the drizzle.This erratic switching

between the two levels could damage the wiper motor as well as the

wipers and windscreen.

I feel that automakers could look into this need and shortcoming and

have a speed level between the slow and medium (let us call it no.2 in

a speed scale of 1,2,3,4) to ensure that there is a speed level for a

light drizzle,heavier drizzle,shower and a heavy downpour .

Correct wiper speed levels mean less problems for the driver, less

damage to the wipers and windscreen, and greater   visibility and

safety for the motorists expecially during poorly lit conditions or at

night .A new wiper speed could be a extra innovative feature by our

local vehicle manufacturers.Additionaly,with the advance of technology

it will be better to have a system where wiper speed levels can be

adjusted by the driver taking into consideration the level of rain.

V.Thomas

 

 

Malaysian Road Safety :

The laid back attitude of too many of our Malaysian drivers seems to be getting worse rather than better as the number of cars on our roads continue to climb and it`s showing not only in "road rage" incidents but also in general carelessness that cause unwanted accidents. During my driving experience, I noticed that the attitude of drivers on the road  for both young and senior to be really disturbing.Major issues were as follows :

#Failing to indicate lane changes and failing to use the rear mirror before doing so

# Blatantly crossing solid white lines in traffic in small or big towns

#Wandering across the lanes while circumnavigating the roundabout and again without using indicators

#Wandering across the lanes on the highway when negotiating long sweeping corners without using indicators

#Sitting in the "fast lane" of highways when the others are empty

All those mentioned above are not only signs of total stupidity and selfishness but also have been a favourite Malaysian national sport. Modern driving requires us all to work together on the roads, with courtesy and common sense. That way we all get to our destinations quicker,with less stress and with fewer accidents.Also worth mentioning, when will the traffic police get out there and crack down on the dangerous drivers including their own officers who are still so arrogant and so silly as to drive with seat belts unbuckled and talking on their handphones without using a merely RM10.00 handsfree kit?

Being laid back on the road so easily leads to being laid out by an undertaker.So peace and drive safely as the Chinese New Year is just round the corner.Take Care.  

Abg. Redzuan B. Zainuren        

 

 

Road Safety

Riders make the most numbers in road accidents. Outdated syllabus

teaching by driving schools and the test conducting by the RTD for a

learner to obtain a riding license must be revised. For instance it is

no more practical to give a hand signal to start a ride or to make a

turn. A learner also required to park the bike on its double jack and

will fail the test if he park it on its single jack. I don't think

those are giving any good to road safety. The learning process and the

test must emphasize on riding safely example to keep riding in a

correct lane not in an opposite direction etc.

Thank you.

Mohd Zamri

Kelantan

 

Road safety

Where do I start? I was brought up by my parents to be a gentleman

and to always obey what they said and a father who always tells me

until today (at the age of 30) to be cautious on the road every time

and every day. I learn a lot from him and observing peoples driving

behavior. I’m a motorist and also a driver. When I’m a driver, I envy

the motorist and hate the pedestrians but when I’m a motorist I hate

the drivers and envy the pedestrians.

 

My 10 Basic rules:

1. Signal saves accidents and lives especially the motorist. There is reason why it’s

in yellow colour, means Caution.   I’m not   psychic and I don’t

know why suddenly you go 0-100 in 5 seconds from the traffic light and

stop your car on the left side near the yellow lane at the bridge.

When you drive tell/hint other drivers what is your intention by using

signal. Hence the name, you are giving a signal.

2. Focus . Not limited to hp, sms, changing cd, igniting a cigarette or seeking radio

station. Although you are on hand-free you are still lack of focus.

Talking to other person whether through the hand phone or the person

besides you in a busy street will get you pissed off by other drivers

because your body is there while your mind is not.   Driving slow or

fast while you are not focusing is still dangerous.

3. Stay on your lane (between the dotted white lines), don’t drive over the white dotted

line and don’t connect the dots while driving over it. You are

operating a car not a train so the dotted white line is not railway

track.

4. Rear view mirror & side mirrors is just not for applying makeup or seeing how good you

look. It’s for the scenes what is happening behind you that u can’t

see.   Answer me this, should you check the rear view mirror first or

gives signal first before changing lanes?

5. Implies rules . We only follow rules when authorities are around. When that happens the

road/the ethics suddenly become so clear peaceful but downside it

doesn’t last that long.

6. Don’t make sudden

move .   Every sudden move you make with your vehicle WILL affect the

other motorist.

7. Yellow box .

Please…please…please… DON’T stop in the box no matter how free or busy

the roads are. Motorcyclist please slow down when you see the yellow

box since you can’t see whether there’s a car coming into a junction

from the other side of the road.

8. Motorcyclist – be alert on signal & always stand by your left thumb on the horn and your

index and middle finger on the front brake, wear a safety vest and I

recommend a full face helmet with sirim approved (yes I do wear even

though I ride a Kriss). Although most of the raincoats is sold in

either blue-black or black colour but I bought the striking yellow

colour which cost less than the dark colour. My moto is “Be seen”

9. Don’t follow unethical motorist. Just because other motorist jumps queue or use

the emergency lanes and you intend to do the same because you got

angry. Once a motorist starts breaks a rule then the others will

follow.   So DON’T START and if it starts DON’T FOLOW.

10. Drive with caution not emotion (quote that I always use until today told by my smart father)

Number one reason to unwanted accidents is the simple basic of rules

and ignorance of these rules.   Signal should be an option in Malaysia

since we rarely use them even if we do use them drivers will actually

thought that we are cutting their lanes.

Malaysians tends to follow what others are doing (most of the leaders

are doing it wrong) Eg: Hazards lights

Jumping queue- people jumps queue got to do their work faster than the

person who queues. Do you see what I'm trying to say here.

We are the few countries (or the only country) that don’t stop and let

the pedestrian cross.

Making our own rules because we hardly got caught and if we do some of

us just keep the ticket or throw it away. Park where it finds it

convenient, because it’s a luxury car/a cute girl then the park

attendant will give you faces compare to a buruk car.

The Good Become Bad n The Bad Become Good

 

Road Safety

We often forget an important aspect when we think of road safety- road

rage.  Road rage can lead to road accidents, confrontations which can

result in injuries and even death.  Recently we read  about a car

driver who was killed with a steering lock when there was a quarrel

over inappropriate parking!  Anger also causes poor judgment in

driving, including dangerous overtaking and taking revenge in rather

innovative but hazardous last minute measures.

JPJ has to deal with road rage even in the driving tests so that

learners are aware of it before they obtain their licence to hopefully

drive rationally, and not licence to kill!  Elders especially parents,

when driiving,need to show good examples to children even when they

are still young. Make sure you don't resort to 'sign language' when

irritated by other drivers.  In fact, to avoid misunderstanding, never

raise your hand at all, in case the other motorist misread  or

miscounted your finger out of poor eyesight or poor visibility. To

challenge other motorists in anyway is plain stupid because you may be

dealing with a potential murderer.  So be cool if you want to be

driving around for more years........

By ' Road Safety officer'

O C Leng

 

Bus & Road Safety.

Time and again its the same thing: serious bus accidents. Politicians

are quick to issue statements on corrective measures to be taken.

What happens? Everyone seems to be very short in memory: forgotten

until another one happens.

The main issue need to be tackle were the implementation of the laws

outlined: strict enforcement. What I mean by strict is really enforce

the law and order: NOT to capitalise on the law for their own

benefits: corruption. Just vist Japan Narita Airport. Till todate

since way back when it was newly opened, you will notice every bus

entering the airport will be screened by police officials on

undercarriage and passengers.

This is where follow through operations is so successfull due to the

dedication and commitment of their personnel.

Secondly, Mr Sureet Singh and Dato Sri Ong Tee Keat are not superman.

They need cooperations from everyone in the Ministry (no more issuance

of Bus Permits to own relatives), to the Traffic Police/Highway

patrol. Again no corruption.

Thirdly, the Bus Company's management must be more concern about their

business in the Service Industry: no short cuts. Give good service to

win customers. A few Companies really keep their logbooks and register

whenever they stop at rest areas and follow the speed limits. I do

have very good and bad experience with different bus companies and

nowadyas always travel by the ones I know well.

Thirdly, the bus driver's attitude and competencies. Either a Double

decker bus or a single tier bus doesn't matter. If he is competent, he

will know when to slow down with each type of bus he handles. If you

speed driving a double decker bus, you know very well it will tilt

when it took any corners. Just take a bus ride on a double decker bus

from Bornemouth to London. You will know the difference. It is known

as a pensioner's bus ride as it travels very slowly due to its safety

concern.

Thirdly, we have wonderfull highways. But were they designed to fit

our condition whereby we have heavy downpours at times? Watelogged is

a common problems here. So too is the gradient for cornering. Look at

the Autobahn in Germany, the gradients at corners were well paved to

avoid untowards incidents.

So, end of the day, its Corruptions, Malaysian Tidak Apa Attitude and

Mentality that rules on the road and our daily living.

Raymond Ting

Sitiawan

 

Touch and Go cards

The condition of that a Touch and Go card is used 80 times per month

before it is eligible for a discount begs for explanation.

In the first place the cards do not have security features whereby if

I were to loose it I can't claim the balance in the card. secondly the

card itself is not free. and thirdly when we prepay our toll(whenever

we put money into the card) we do not get interest for money in the

card.  Money in the card means we are losing time cost of

money(interest).This time cost (interest) accrues to the company that

runs the Touch and Go cards. Imagine the volume of cash that the

company sits on idling away in the bank.

So why the need to have a condition of 80 times usage per month before

we can get a discount on toll rates?  This discount should start the

moment we get a card.

By : NYChung

 

Weighted keys

My advise to motorist to prolong better maintenance of the ignition system is by not adding any other weights like other keys to the ignition key holder. Additional weights only adds strain on the ignition key hole.      

M.Sivralimgam