Reasons of road accidents during Hari Raya
Ahh, its the time of the year again where I look forward to have peace of mind in the city. Yes, peace and serenity in the city of Kuala Lumpur when everyone returns to their respective hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya. The city will now slowly turn into a ghostly cowboy town.
Lets remain this way rather than a pile of twisted metal and (body)parts. 
Today will be the last day for all Muslims of the world to fast and welcome in the new month of Syawal to celebrate Hari Raya Eidul-ftr. It would be the best time of the year for the Islamic community in Malaysia to return to their hometowns and be jolly with their loved ones. Traveling back to their ‘kampungs’ can be quite a chore as the roads will be packed with vehicles of all sizes, big and small. Ops Sikap is back again to be the watchdogs (mind the pun) to monitor traffic conditions. Check out HERE to view the latest statistics.
Every year for the past 10 years or so we have been terrified by news about road accidents, some can be minor while some, fatal. Now, with all the road safety campaign by the government and private bodies that took place to educate the public about being careful while driving, why do these accidents still occur? Where have these campaigns gone wrong? Are we just being plain ignorant?
To me, the answer is simple - rest and nutrition deprivation. The drivers are not in their fittest of mind and body to take control of the vehicle and the load that comes with it.
Yes, you (the driver) have had enough sleep last night and you think you are more fitter than a horse to drive. But, have you forgotten that after a month of fasting your body could be in its worst condition? A whole 30-day of controlling hunger (and other temptations) which results in lacking of the right nutrition that the body needs. The kind of nutrition that only fresh food can supply to our dear bodies.
What’s more, all the getting up at dawn to pray and having breakfast before starting to fast for the next 14 hours would do more damage to the body. Doing all these for a month and when the time to balik kampung, thats where tragedy happens. Imagine all the lack of sleep and nutrition snowballed for the past 30 days, if you dont collapse, I could die in my sleep.
Not only that, driving on the road with heavy traffic requires a fresh mind with lots of focus. Stepping on the accelerator and hitting the brakes intermittently also makes the legs no less tiring. The driver also have a full-load of loved ones to entertain along the way too. So tell me, where have all the concentration gone to while the driver are so physically and mentally limited to endure the long journeys?
How do we curb road accidents, looking at the fact of the matter… ? How can this end? I really value your input on this.
I seriously would want everyone who uses the North-South highway, trunk roads and any other roads to be an alert driver. Not just be alert but to be defensive in their driving. You may be a careful driver but what about the cars at the front, back, left and right?
Make use of your tax money by stopping by at the R&R areas to empty your bowel and fill up your stomach with some teh tarik. Of course, don’t immediately drive after eating, just relax before resuming your journey. I remember once I was driving from Johor back to KL, I was so drowsy that I had to stop and took a 30 minute snooze. Also remembered I was snoring so loud that I could even hear it myself! My mom was there to witness it too!
Here’s a safe and joyful Hari Raya to all my friends and everyone I know. I wish not to be terrified again with news of gore and blood, instead to savour a peaceful (hopefully) this long weekend…
