Saturday May 5, 2007
By RASHITHA A. HAMID
rashitha@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Drivers who trail or obstruct ambulances, fire engines or VIP motorcades can be fined RM300 on the spot.
And there will be no chance of the fine being reduced, Federal Traffic Chief, Senior Asst Comm II Datuk Nooryah Md Anvar said.
The decision was taken following the incident in Kuala Terengganu last month when two traffic cops escorting the Regent of Terengganu were killed in an accident.
Special team: Nooryah inspecting a guard of honour during her visit to the Jalan Bandar traffic police station in Kuala Lumpur.
Special team: Nooryah inspecting a guard of honour during her visit to the Jalan Bandar traffic police station in Kuala Lumpur.
The accident occurred when one of the police escorts rammed into a car that came to a sudden halt at a junction.
She said motorists should give way to prevent unnecessary incidents. “Motorist must give way because the sirens on police motorbikes, VVIP escort cars, ambulances and fire engines can be heard from more than 100m away,” she said, adding that the beacons on these vehicles could also be clearly seen.
SAC II Nooryah said it was also irresponsible for motorists to trail such vehicles and they could also be fined.
“It is wrong and dangerous for the motorist to copy the actions of the escorting vehicles.
The drivers are trained to drive fast and in the most demanding situations. “If a normal driver wants to drive as police escorts, we will end up with accidents,” she said.
She said fire engine and ambulance drivers should note down the registration number of vehicles obstructing them and hand the numbers over to the police.
She added that other vehicles could be traced by using closed circuit television.
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