Road accidents and women drivers.

                   

  

                 Quite recently comments were made in Parliament that most road accidents in Malaysia are caused by women drivers .The statement was quickly condemned by women groups claiming that they are male chauvinist remarks. Whether or not women are  responsible for the high number of road accidents in this country in not the prime concern.The concern really is the common causes of these accidents
                       There had been numerous studies made by the relevant authorities on these and efforts are on going to solve the problems.One fact however remains clear . Deaths on our roads are so staggeringly high that one is utterly ashamed to know . According to the Police ,in 2010 alone there were 6872 deaths arising out of a total of 414,421 accidents which work out to about 600 deaths a month or 20 a day. Yet people are relatively quiet about it.The media report the accidents as an event devoid of the sorrow and empathy usually associated with loss of life.And yet these are tragic deaths that come in suddenly and unexpectedly. .If the deaths  were to take place in the battlefield ,the losses of lives on our road is comparable to a loss of an entire military force in a year .
                     Our national leaders claimed that the government had already done all they could to reduce traffic deaths and that  there is nothing much more that can be done . The blame is on the motorists themselves for whatever happened on the roads..All point out that the human factor in dangerous driving is the main cause . .While this is true to a certain extent there  are other factors that need to be considered . .One such factor is law enforcement . Let us examine whether there has been sufficient efforts being done to enforce the laws and regulation relating to road safety . The following areas of law enforcement are only a few examples of steps that could be taken :
                          1] Overloading : A high proportion of road accidents appear to involve smaller cars of 2 lit.and below. They are driven by  the lower and middle income people .During the festive seasons they are the majority of road users. Their vehicles are  completely overloaded .A small Perodua kancil or kelissa carry up to 6 to 7 persons . Its amazing to know how they are packed inside the vehicles . Overloading in such a manner is the prime cause of the mishaps. The same concern applies to vehicles such as buses,lorries etc.
                       Enforcement of the necessary regulations  is relatively easy .Our highways are dotted with toll collection gates which could be used to check on these offences .           
                     2)       Unlicensed and inexperienced drivers :Having obtained a driving license does not mean one  knows everything about driving ,leave alone about safe driving .Driving skill comes only with experience .There are numerous reports of fatal accidents involving  inexperienced drivers .Those involved are reported to be holding their driving licences for less than a year . Let us make the highways safe by not allowing  these inexperienced drivers on the highways at least during the festive seasons  . .On festive seasons when the roads are congested and travellers are in hurry ,those with P driving licences should not be disallowed to drive on major highways . Such restrictions must  be a part of the conditions set forth in their licences .         
              
                 Toll gates must be made to play a greater role in mitigating road accidents .They must surely be the most convenient bases for effective enforcement of all the road safety rules and regulations .