Malaysian Driver Not The Worst In The World

The notorious Malaysian motorist
Ruby Foster | September 12, 2012
Here is a list of some ‘favourite’ offences Malaysian motorists are notorious for.


FEATURE


In his book ‘The Titanic Awards’, Doug Lansky lists the 10 countries with the worst drivers based on a survey of 2,000 respondents from 80 different countries.


With Italy leading the way followed by India and China and ending with Mexico, Malaysia is surprisingly not in the line-up, leading one to think that maybe the survey requires some serious restructuring.


Driving on Malaysian roads can be hell. And we’re not just imagining it since the police and Road Transport Department (JPJ) issued 100,143 summonses to Malaysian drivers caught using their mobile phones last year.


Now our ‘multi-tasking’ motorists have taken to logging on to Facebook and Twitter while on the road with others even uploading photos while behind the wheel. A talented bunch, wouldn’t you say?


Here is a list of some ‘favourite’ offences Malaysian motorists are notorious for.




Pedestrial crosses – these are merely white stripes that beautify the road as far as Malaysian drivers are concerned. No pedestrian dares use these for fear of being run down by an irate motorist who thinks you are just asking for trouble by crossing without waiting for traffic to free up. God forbid if you do stop for a pedestrian for you will be blasted by the motorist behind for wasting his time. I write from experience!


Traffic lights – another decorative item on the road. Malaysians must be colour blind since they rarely abide by the red traffic light that commands them to stop. Also the amber light in reality is a signal for ‘just go faster’. If you start to slow down, you will most probably have a mountain of curses hurled at you by the driver behind who thinks you are just too cowardly to drive on our roads.


Disdain for signal lights – while we’re on the subject of lights, ever noticed how our drivers prefer to just shoot into your lane without signalling first? For those who do, signalling means that you must give way immediately even when it’s virtually impossible to do so without causing an accident. One minute you’re minding your own business driving your car, the next a huge four-wheeler is looming closer and closer onto your path. Is it any wonder there are so many accidents on our expressways?


Emergency lanes – our drivers are gifted at weaving in and out of traffic at rush hour even if they have no place in particular to go. So the emergency lanes at our expressways are perfect to nip into for a quick ride home. When one does see a stalled car parked in the emergency lane, this is usually met with an ‘aiyoh… stupid driver’ remark.


Kid’s car seats – no lah, too expensive! Most Malaysians prefer to have their babies on their laps in the front passenger seat. Saves money and encourages bonding between mother and child. So what happens when the driver applies the emergency brakes? Let’s not even go there – we’ve seen and heard enough horror stories about it already.


Yellow box – how on earth did some drivers pass their tests? The yellow boxes on our roads are painted there for a purpose – it’s meant to be avoided when traffic comes to a standstill and is not a special parking spot for your car. People, you should really wise up to these basic road regulations.


Speedsters – I had a friend who loved to speed. However he did pride himself at being ‘polite’ when faced with an annoying but law-abiding motorist who followed speed limits. My friend would never honk. No never! In his book of unwritten rules, that was just too uncultured and downright rude. Instead he’d tailgate and flash his lights manically at the motorist ahead of him. How sweet!


I am sure there are many more horror stories about our Malaysian drivers that would send shivers down anyone’s spine. In my opinion, we are a discourteous lot – to pedestrians and other motorists. Many also easily fly into a rage when an accident occurs, however minor. If we don’t pull up our socks, we could very well find ourselves among the 10 countries with the worst drivers ever.

no lah, we are not that bad to be honest. I know for a fact that drivers in India are much much much worse than the worse we have to offer. Had being there on business trips and what they said about Indian drivers are all true...

Or, could just watch an episode of IRT's Deadliest Road India on History channel.

In my opinion, i think the worse kind of road-users we have are motorcyclists...sometimes I wonder, do they value their lives at all?

As mentioned in the book, yes India is No: 2 after Italy, then China......

Malaysia Boleh! and we are catching up! If enforement continue to loose.... One day.. One day we will be in the list...

I was actually suprised that Italy managed to get a numero uno in this list. I would really think that there's no one worst than India..

Again, i had been to Italy, Milan and Rome to be exact (i didn't mean to brag ya ), the car drivers are actually pretty decent and law-abiding. But the scooterists/motorcyclist/superbikers are as bad/worst than as our mat rempits. Damn rude too, moothafakerz

Today, headlines in Star about our bikers also.......

Case 1:
A car tried to cut in my lane even though there was no room at all. This was an old cheap car. I think the driver did not even border if someone knocked the car. But I did border for my car! This driver did not even turn on the signal. If he did, I was sure would brake and let it cut in my line. Since the driver thought that jst because the car was old cheapo car, it could change lane anytime it like. Sorry, I did not allow him to cut in and horned him for very long time.

Case 2: Sunday morning. I stopped at traffic light. Short Q only. But there were cars passing from emergency lane and cut Q.
Sunday, not working. The Q was very short only. Why all these drivers did it? Once again, were proton and perodua.

WELCOME TO NEW BOLEHLAND!!!!!! We no longer call M'sia where in Bolehland many will,

1. Cut Q.. not only driving also taking lift.
2. Drive opposite way.
3. Emergency lane no longer for emergency use.
4. Come out from junction without stopping.
5. Signal light is for deco only.
6. Last time yellow light is drive faster but now is red light still can cross
7. Double line is for showing.
8. Helmet is to avoid saman.
9. Double parking is gift.
10. Even there are parking bay but i rather park some place nearer to lift if can when get out from car just besides is lift.
11. OKU parking bay is also for none OKU, now they want to introduce Women only parking bay... what a joke.
12. Sidewalk is for parking as well.
13. Any many more......... dan lian lian...

Lol!

I think if u want to compare the worst drivers around the world, the thing is also you must see how much the locals understand how it works. From the outside it may seem like a broken system. Sure it's very chaotic... But if everyone including pedestrians know how to navigate, everyone kinda knows who has right of way even if they dont follow lights etc, then "bad driving" doesnt necessarily mean the most dangerous roads

The women parking system has been abused. What some people do is to let out the family/friends out of the gurards' line of sight, then let the lady (e.g., wife) to drive alone into women parking area. The lady then meets the family/friends at the shopping entrance. This happens in Midvalley.