Authorities urged to step up enforcement following accidents on Penang bridge

GEORGE TOWN: The recent spate of accidents involving lorries on the Penang Bridge have raised concerns among road users here as it has caused severe traffic congestion and hiked up the risk level for those commuting along the major arterial road of the state.
There is now an urgent call for the enforcement authorities to act before such accidents lead to lives lost or a major bottleneck of traffic along the main bridge connecting Seberang Prai with the island.
In the last three mishaps, the drivers of the heavy laden lorries, filled with sand and concrete beams, lost control of their vehicles before ploughing into the barriers – the latest saw the lorry straddled dangerously along the barriers of the bridge where it almost tilted over.
The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye urged the relevant enforcement agencies to step up checks by enforcing stricter regulations towards operators of heavy vehicles.
On this, he said, stern regulations are needed to prevent lorry operators who are plying the main route not to overload their cargo haul.
By exceeding the weight limit, the operators are asking for an accident to happen, he said.
This, he said, was totally against traffic regulations as the driver would not be able to control their steering and the consequences would be tough to bear with.
Lee, who always advises motorists to be cautious, said when drivers are not vigilant, it could lead to the compromise of road safety standards.
Lee also urged the enforcement authorities to conduct checks at entry and exit points of major highways to prevent errant drivers from abusing the road safety laws.
On whether there is any stipulated time for heavy vehicles to use the bridge, state Public Utilities Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng told theSun that there was a certain time slot for heavy vehicles to use the bridge.
For example, he said that lorries could not use the bridge from 6.30am to 8.30am and between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
If they violate it, Lim said enforcement authorities such as the Road Transport Department (RTD) can issue summons to the errant drivers.
Central Seberang Prai district police chief ACP Nik Ros Azhan Nik Hamid said that initial investigations revealed the drivers had lost control of their vehicles due to technical issues.
He dismissed claims that the drivers were intoxicated or suffering from fatigue.