Let's make Brunei's roads safe again

MUCH has been said about the authorities stepping up their road blocks during the festive seasons. With road fatalities involving Bruneians home and abroad, interest in road safety has risen to a different level.

I applaud the steps taken by the authorities to do so... BUT those enforcing the road rules and laws could at least do so with some decent manners. At first I thought I was the only one who had been subjected to abrupt and rude behaviour. Then I heard a colleague who had encountered the same situation of some police personnel being brusque, and also of others who had recounted about their experiences of being "hassled" these last few weeks .

Every motorist knows that when they take to the road, they are to abide by the rules, regulations and laws. The police have an obligation and duty to ensure that the letter of the law is being followed. However it can be done in a way that is open and welcoming, and not in an abrupt manner.

Recounting my own experience, it was the weekend, and I have just left the office at close to 1am (the life of a writer isn't all that glamourous). As I made my way home, I saw a car that had been pulled over and its driver being questioned by two policemen. It was the surest sign that a roadblock was up ahead.

As I sat in the queue, I began to get everything in order, my IC (identity card) and driver's license, and I even put my window down early to speak to the authorities. Usually doing these in advance ensures the process is quick and relatively painless.

Speaking in Malay, the policewoman manning the road block ushered me to where I was to stop, and then asked me where I had just came from. "I came from work," I said. To which she rolled her eyes and said, "IC and driver's license" and stuck out her hand.

I thought this was quite rude, but being 1am in the morning, I decided to just hand it over. I didn't want to spend more time away from home, let alone lecturing one of the Royal Brunei Police Force's finest. After scrutinising the documents, she then passed it back to me, waving me through without a thank you or a second glance.

I can appreciate that their job as traffic police isn't about being nice and polite. However being courteous is FREE... and it goes a very long way.

The attitude being displayed that night is not necessary. It doesn't do any favours for traffic police or their public image.

It is no different if the person that was driving up to a roadblock is, underaged, under the influence of substances, or doing so recklessly. It doesn't exclude them the right of due process, and by all means if they are in breach of our country's laws throw the book at them.

Let me put into further perspective, such behaviour from the police alienates the motorists,and instead of ending up assured that traffic police are doingtheir jobs, they end up feelinglike their being harassed.

It is a far cry from about two years ago, during Ramadhan (the fasting month), when I had driven through a similar roadblock. It was even later, closer to 2am, I had finished prayers and attended a tedarus, and was looking particularly scruffy and looked far more suspicious than I did at the most recent roadblock encounter.

The policeman, also speaking in malay, said "Good evening, sir, where have you been so late at night?" I told him about the prayers, and all the other details, to which is reply was "May I see your driver's license and IC, please?" All in a very courteous manner. I passed him the documents, he said "Thank you, have a good night and drive safely."

That approach is beneficial for all involved, motorists and law enforcement alike. How quickly things change.

I got a phone call from a friend a few months ago, asking for advice. His car had been bumped by a car from behind, and he asked what should he do? The whole incident made me ask myself, why not call the traffic police first instead? I asked him for his opinion after my unsavoury incident and he said that although he eventually called them (the traffic police), he felt that he would be given the run around before getting the right advice.

What motorists don't realise is that in any accident the police are the first people you should call. They should be the agency of first choice, but instead it seems people are going to other avenues that they trust for advice concerning accidents. Trust it seems is at a premium, for motorists and authorities alike.

You cannot fault traffic Police and the Land Transport Department though. Fatalities on the road have been the highest in recent years. With road accidents and fatalities mounting in such a short period of time, maybe a prolonged period of enforcement activity is warranted.

However I'm not talking about roadblocks, no one speeds towards a roadblock. I'm talking about people talking and sending text messages while driving, errant motorists running and jumping red lights. Enforcement may be considered a short term solution, but while these operations are taking place maybe the reviews to legislation and driver training can take place.

Personally I feel that Brunei would do well to update its driver education programme. Here are a few suggestions, maybe include up to date videos and information regarding accidents and road safety issues. Raise the number of mandatory hours with driving instructors, audit the instructors and schools regularly.

Maybe even consider changing the current structure of a final driving test, to that of a more comprehensive logbook or module structure.

That way, specific driving skills are honed before being assessed and a final 30 minute drive to assess whether all the skills and disciplines are observed. During the final test, any mistakes and bad habits can be spotted, and if they are serious errors, the driver will need to take the test once again at a later date.

Let's all work together to make Brunei's roads safe again.

The Brunei Times