MIROS sings the tune of road safety
One famous, albeit amusing definition of insanity is of a person who expects different results after doing the same thing. If a given approach to a particular problem has been known to fail, it would therefore be foolish to repeat the attempt with an unchanged approach.
The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), armed with only a shoestring budget and sheer determination, has been working for years to combat the levels of road accidents in the country. From our observations, it’s not difficult to see that the organization’s efforts have not been entirely successful. The numbers back our observations up – in 2009, there were 397,330 road accidents with 6,745 deaths, of which 60% of those who perished were motorcyclists and pillion riders.
Taking heed of the age-old wisdom discussed in our opening premise, MIROS has moved to switch gears and is now trying to deliver its message on a new platform – music. The decision is based on results of worldwide studies suggesting that music has had a profound physical and psychological effect in communicating social ideas, values and influencing the lives of a much larger audience
Launching what it calls the Love Life campaign, MIROS got hold of 14 Malaysian artistes to perform a pop-tempo theme-song, Love Life, for what has become the first Malaysian album dedicated to road safety. The album features nine other compilation songs, and the theme song itself will eventually spawn a music video and a ring tone.
Produced for MIROS by award-winning composer Johan Nawawi, the album is sponsored by PLUS Expressways Berhad and comprises of 10 songs performed by Nora, Zainal Abidin, Dato’ Khatijah Ibrahim, Jaclyn Victor, Dayang Nur Faizah, Noh Hujan, Nabil Mentor, Dina, Sheila OIAM, Tomok, Desiree, Hunny Madu, Remy Ishak and Cakra Sonic. The album also features Malaysian motorcycle racing champion Wazi Abdul Hamid.
The campaign and album was launched on 7 September 2010 at Persada Plus (PLUS headquarters) with copies of the album later being distributed to some 1,000 motorists at the Subang Jaya NKVE toll plaza in Petaling Jaya ahead of the Hari Raya celebrations and Balik Kampung journey.
“Music is a very powerful means of persuasion and we hope that it will give us the much needed breakthrough in communicating the importance of good road safety practice to the masses and in the process, become an effective platform in helping to reduce road accidents and fatalities,” said MIROS Director-General Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah.
Professor Dr Farhan further added that the passing of subliminal messages through songs and music – in the case of Love Life focused on road safety awareness – has also been proven to have had an effective impact and can result in a positive vibe on the subconscious minds of motorists and influencing their behaviours, actions and attitudes. MIROS will also follow up on this launch with a research to evaluate the the effectiveness and impact of the theme song and music in general, towards creating greater road safety awareness.
Love Life theme song lyrics
Tanpa diduga
nahas yang menimpa
telah mengakhiri perjalanan kita
hanya kerana
kesabaran tiada…oh!
Syukur hati ku
bila ku lihat mu
masih berada disisi
terlalu hampirnya nyawa mu pergi
kerana sikap ku terburu (begitu)
Chorus:
Live Love! Love Life!
Today we make the change
through caring and love
Live Love! Love Life!
If we could all be more understanding
it’s the biggest gift of life!
…Love Life!
From now on I’m very sure
I wanna make it right
Each and every journey of our lives
one can make the change
saving all these lives…oh!
Now I realize
the meaning of true love
just the thought of losing you
never felt so painful
Never will I can
imagine living without you
Chorus:
Hidup Cinta!
Bersama kita mampu
mengubah tibanya duka
Cinta Hidup!
Bila kita saling cuba memahami
itulah kehebatannya…
