Kuala Lumpur: The proposal to restrict university student excursions to daytime travel should be carefully considered following the tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students last Monday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Nurrul Hafeezah Sahak, a lecturer from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), suggested that this measure would reduce the risk of accidents and prevent a recurrence of the UPSI incident. She highlighted that limited visibility and driver drowsiness at night pose significant risks.
She was responding to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir's statement regarding various recommendations, including the proposal for daytime-only university trips. Recent media reports also noted that 28 passengers, including 13 Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) students, survived a bus accident on the East Coast Expressway.
Public awareness in selecting transport companies with good safety records also needs improvement, Dr. Nurrul emphasized. Companies with strong safety practices ensure their drivers adhere to traffic laws and maintain their vehicles properly. Additionally, the use of seatbelts should be promoted to minimize injury risks.
Associate Professor Dr. Kamarudin Ambak, from the Smart Driving Research Center, stressed the need for bus companies to instill a high level of safety awareness in their drivers. He noted that students are often unable to influence driver behavior due to fixed schedules and emphasized the need for re-evaluation of bus management practices.
Dr. Kamarudin also recommended that drivers on long journeys receive adequate rest to maintain safety. He pointed out the current lack of co-pilots or second drivers for lengthy trips, which can lead to driver fatigue.
Associate Professor Dr. Ng Choy Peng, from the Faculty of Engineering, National Defence University, called for attention to be given to driver competency and appropriate working hours. She urged stricter enforcement of laws regarding bus operating hours and driver conduct, highlighting the need for more stringent measures, especially in light of the bus driver involved in the UPSI tragedy having multiple traffic violations.
The need for a stricter demerit system was also emphasized, as Dr. Ng pointed out the failure to suspend the license of a driver with numerous summonses.