THE recent spate of high-profile accidents has put road safety very much at the forefront of public agenda.
The crash which claimed nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) members involved a lorry driver with previous convictions for drug offences.
Then came another heart-wrenching tragedy on June 9 that killed 15 Universiti Putra Sultan Idris (UPSI) students with a number of issues arising from the accident.
These include whether the driver was driving dangerously as well cs the road-worthiness of the vehicle. This has led to calls for a black box device and speed limiters being mandatory in all heavy vehicles.
So imagine the shock that greeted passengers on express buses when they were handed fines for failing to wear seat belts in Kedah.
As reported in the Harian Metro, the Kedah Road Transport Department (JPJ) issued compounds to 16 express and tour bus passengers for failing to wear seat belts during an enforcement operation on July 1.
Undercover RTD personnel were deployed on board buses to discreetly monitor and record violations by drivers and passengers with compounds issued on the spot based on the recorded evidence.
The news was shared on the Kedah Kini Facebook page and suffice to say, the reception was far from positive.
One commenter called out the operation as untimely given that most folks are already struggling with the recently implemented Sales and Services Tax (SST) expansion which has further exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis.
Just ignore the summons, declared one netizen. After all, many bus drivers who were summoned are still driving. He also noted that the RM300 fine “could buy half-a-year’s supply of rice”.
Get your priorities straight was the message conveyed by one irate observer. He contended that there should be – first and foremost – roadworthiness tests on the vehicles.
This should be followed on urine tests on the bus drivers to ensure they are not drug addicts.
Some pointed out that the authorities were targeting the wrong people, highlighting that commuters using express buses were usually low-income earners. “Why punish them?” seems to be the overriding sentiment.
The general feeling tends to be that the guilty parties are allowed to get away scot-free while the common man-on-the-street is faulted.
However, on the flip side, one commenter did point out that the law must be enforced. This is the only way a society can progress and prosper.
Anyone unhappy with any laws can pressure (through the ballot box) the government of the day to make the necessary changes.
Yes, the laws are there for a reason. For sure the passengers were in the wrong for not buckling up. But the point of contention with many commenters is that enforcement seems selective.
As one commenter sarcastically remarked, “as if such punitive actions will bring an end to fatal accidents involving buses”.
The manner in which this issue is being handled highlights how the authorities are simply tone deaf and do NOT seem to have the well-being of the rakyat at heart.
Surely, it could have been handled better. – July 4, 2025
Main image credit: Bernama
