LETTER | Drive with the right mindset

LETTER | I am writing to call out the apathy and recklessness of drivers of anything with more than two wheels towards motorcycles and bicycles on the road these days in Penang, which has always earned itself as the state with the worst drivers in Malaysia.

Many a times have I seen examples of what I can only describe as intentional attempts at using their cars as a weapon toward other road users.

In one case at the touristy Batu Feringgi area, I personally witnessed how an SUV tried to cut off a motorcycle in on the blind left side on a narrow two-lane road nearly hitting the unaware rider for no reason at all, seemingly discontent perhaps with the fact that the motorcycle was merely following a queue of vehicles in traffic.

On another day, I saw again a similar case where an MPV nearly swiped another motorcycle on the left lane when he tried to cut him off just to turn left nearly 500m away.

Friends have shared how often they had nearly been swiped off the road by impatient drivers darting out of junctions and not giving any consideration to the right of other road users.

How often have we been shocked to see how drivers just change lanes without a thought, all the way from the right to the far left on our roads.

Because it is so commonplace to see this happening now, perhaps one should not be surprised with the continuing decline of our Malaysian driving mind set and their couldn’t-care-less attitude towards their brethren on the road.

One thing we should be reminded often is that drivers of anything with four wheels have a metal skin of protection compared to their relatively unprotected brothers and sisters using motorcycles and bicycles where in the event of any mishap, they would fare the worse off.

As an observer and victim of reckless and thoughtless drivers, the prognosis of the situation is ominous as there appears to be a predominance of some sort of psychosis i.e. normal people turning into Mr Hyde once they get behind the wheel.

To them, I say, please have a thought and care about your fellow road users and if you had a bad day, take a deep breath first and try get into the right mindset before you drive.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.