Improve Driving School Curriculum To Enhance Safety - Road Safety Marshal Club

Malaysia's driving school curriculum should feature specialised training to improve driver road safety, according to president of the Road Safety Marshal Club to K. Balasupramaniam.

He suggests implementing tailored training that addresses specific challenges drivers face, considering factors such as vehicle type and varying road conditions.

“While the existing curriculum is adequate, additional training tailored to drivers’ specific needs – like managing automatic versus manual buses or navigating difficult terrains such as Cameron Highlands – is crucial.

“It is necessary to equip drivers with survival skills and defensive driving techniques specific to their routes,” he says, stressing the importance of the ‘3M factor’ of man, machine, and maintenance.

Balasupramaniamo emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy to enhance road safety. This strategy, according to him, should extend beyond driver education to include family education, fostering safer driving habits.

Additionally, he advocates for greater investment in car maintenance and technological solutions, such as devices like Tyron, which mitigate accidents caused by flat tires.

Accountability for vehicle maintenance, Balasupramaniam asserts, lies not solely with drivers but also with mechanics and corporate policies.

“If a company limits its budget, leading to inadequate vehicle upkeep, it ultimately falls on the driver when malfunctions occur.

“This blame game is avoidable if we focus on 3M: the preparedness of the driver, the performance of the machine and thorough maintenance,” he added.

The president of the Malaysian Road and Transportation Safety Association, Md. Hairolazaman Muhamed, asserts that road conditions play a significant role in traffic accidents. 

He emphasizes the importance of teaching safe driving practices, particularly to public transport drivers, to equip them for handling hazardous situations.

“This includes dynamic risk management, which involves drivers trained to adapt quickly to changing road conditions and traffic situations.

“The bus management or supervisor must brief the driver to be more careful when driving along certain risky stretches of road.

“This includes compulsory stops to ensure that the driver is well rested,” he added.