Tuesday October 7, 2008
Reckless behaviour boggles the mind
IN RESPONSE to an SMS opinion sent by one of your local readers (The Star, Oct 6), I have to agree that it is true that some Malaysian drivers have no concern for their own safety or others.
As an English expatriate who has made Malaysia his new home, there is not a day I could not help but worry about my safety on the road regardless if I am all buckled up in my car.
Do we need those rude, inconsiderate “ugly Malaysians” on the road who think they own the road and are reckless enough to endanger themselves and others?
Recently, when I was on my way home from doing the weekly grocery shopping, I was left aghast to see a father allowing her toddler daughter to sit on his lap while he was behind the wheel.
How could a father be so reckless as to put his child in danger?
Where I come from, we always make child safety a priority in vehicles where we not only provide special safety seats but also always buckle the child up.
In Britain, a parent or a care-giver can be prosecuted for not buckling the child up.
Do people not know that buckling up a child not only instils the habit of road safety for life but also reduce the chances of getting injured or killed in a collision?
I hope the authorities and the Malaysian public will take action to improve driving etiquette, otherwise the country is going to end up a laughing stock.
CHRISTOPHER K. BIRCH,
Kuala Lumpur.
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