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Tragic Bus Crashes. |
December 31, 2009 |
For the first time in my entire blogging career,I freaked out while right clicking,Save As and uploading the bottom few pictures.
Its the 31st of December 2009,the last day before we step into the new year; a better one hopefully. A couple of days ago,I went on this road trip with my closest relatives to HatYai in Thailand,it was a really last minute trip considering it was only confirmed when I was in Singapore two days before it. Mum told me that we’re gonna be travelling up north for a coach bus and I was obviously dreading it because I already had my fair share of going down to Singapore by coach the day before. 
Cut the crap.
I’m here to talk about my point of view about the recent shocking news which literally sent chills down my spine,I kid you not. Plane crashes are tragic,but mostly it can be avoidable and those which happens are usually tragic accidents. Its not the exactly the same when it comes to land transports because more accidents are caused by reckless driving.
In the recent case where a metal guard rail slicing into a bus killed ten people today in an overnight crash in Ipoh. Three more were injured with one hospitalised when the double-decker Sani Express struck the rail at 1 a.m. with 48 passengers on board.
The vehicle was en route to the northern destination of Perlis from the central state of Selangor when it crashed in Perak on the North-South Expressway, which runs the length of the country. The victims were on the lower deck when the vehicle skidded, struck and was ripped open on the left-hand side by the rail before swerving across the road to rest against the central divider. Of the ten killed, the youngest was fourteen and the oldest 64.
The bus driver had prior traffic offense convictions, although the bus had not been in any incidents with the police. Police arrested him, noting he was not drunk or on drugs, and he has been remanded in custody until Wednesday. He admits that he fell asleep just before the crash. [source]
What I feel.
First and foremost,my deepest condolences to the victims & family members. Knowing that this wasn’t the first case,as there was this other bus crash accident two years ago [source] that took 21 lives; I really am questioning the authorities concern about having these express buses driving through late nights. I completely understand how they’re most probably paid handsomely driving such long distance at such hours, but knowing that most could have been making a second trip back home.
Coming from my tiny perspective of a twenty-one year old who probably doesn’t know enough; I also understand how difficult it could have been for those poor drivers to make an honest living,hence looking at the bigger picture,the authorities definitely could have done a better job organizing work shifts,allocating more co-drivers,implementing strictly followed-by rules of swapping drivers every two hours and there are a million steps possible if they would look deeper into this.
I read the article where some proposed that they should prohibit night travel buses as its too dangerous; then there’ll probably be heavier traffic up north and down south during the day congesting traffic right?
Its innocent lives we’re talking about folks. People who’re probably fast asleep when it happens on their way to a vacation,visiting a relative or possibly travelling back home. It struck me the other day when the Keeper was worried sick about my trip back home when he read the news on Boxing Day,then I realized how it could have been me; dead. My heart is beating extremely fast right now as I post the pictures up, because its 2am in the morning and I am googling about this.
The purpose of writing about this isn’t so much about reporting about the accident but to spark awareness among ourselves. Malaysians seem to only raise their voices when an accident involves someone they know,or else it’ll be the usual tidak apa attitude. Thats probably why we all end up paying the price with countless regrets. I hope my tiny voice would be heard in someway or rather.
No more tragic bus crashes,please. [petition]
It could have been you.
It could have been me.
.
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sigh… this is just so sad!!!
a very well written post! the govn. could have done so much more,if only they’d take a further step.happy new year cheerio*
i read the news about this the same day it happen and i got to admit that it was a very bad tragedy that could be prevent but too bad that driver didnt switch driver when he have that stop.
ma heart goes out to all the family of the victimz. .RIP
Such accidents are bad, so bad that the authorities must do something that is effectively…. The insurance industry has always been blamed for increasing premiums and refusing to write certain types of risks like such buses because of their extremely high loss ratios, but relevant authorities are taking heed of this, but rather taking a neutral stance all the time! The KEJARA demerit system is also not effective….despite operating it for so long > 6 years!