Sunday, June 20, 2004
Guide to Malaysian Drivers
Part Seis - Finale
Poor speed matching and merging lane practice is the main and most common reason for the jam we face. I see it daily. People cutting into lanes at the wrong speeds or wrong entry positions, forcing the people in the destination lane to brake and the person behind them to brake and so on. Then this starts a chain reaction of the stop and go jam because most of these drivers don’t know how to move or accelerate along quickly to dissipate the flow interruption. The jam begins. Most times, you do not have to brake if you are travelling at the near similar speeds. Lifting your feet on or off the accelerator to match the speed is sufficient. It’s like filling in the gaps seamlessly like how a zipper works. If you merge lanes when two cars are side by side or travelling too fast in relation to each other, it wouldn’t work now would it? Please use your indicator lights for the sake of other motorist behind you. You actions become more predictable for their mind mapping and flow.
Similarly, this applies to merging lanes when entering highways, which repeatedly happens along the Federal Highway daily. You should not be slowing down when going into the highway lanes. You should be accelerating and matching the speed of incoming cars and then merge into the traffic. When you slowly enter the lanes, it causes a break in the flow of incoming traffic and subsequently causes a potential problem. This is especially true at the area towards the entrance of the Kerinchi Link highway on the Federal Highway, which coincidentally, is also a victim of poor road planning with no spill over lanes. Indirectly, you become the rock in the path of the river. What needs to be understood is that it is dangerous for the faster moving drivers as we have to avoid a slower vehicle when you break the flow. We are driving around to avoid and accelerating away from you, hence we pose no danger to you. This even applies to the normal roads and this is where the policy of driving slowly equates to safety is in direct conflict with logic. Driving slowly or in a relaxed state of mind, results in the reduction of mental alertness and complacency in skill upgrading towards being a more capable driver.
The reason why this is a common problem in practice is the ignorance of the surroundings behind them. Again not being prejudicial, it is more common with women drivers and some men drivers too regardless of age. The justification is simple. I previously wrote about the perception that cars are mechanical monsters to some drivers and therefore, concentrating on what happens in front of them matters more, trying not to crash into others or injure their own self, thereby completely ignoring their surroundings of flashing high beams and honking from drivers behind them. If you see a line of cars tailing closely to one another on the speed lane, then you know the first car in the line is one of these drivers. The mirrors are simply beauty accessories. Those who know how to treat the car as a friend, on the other hand, have a better chance of being more alert of the drivers behind them and can be more responsive to courtesy.
If it’s a two lane road and you are travelling side by side with another car at slow speeds with obvious empty road space in front, you and the other driver have effectively blocked of any safe path for anyone to get pass. If you don’t intend to drive fast, overtake or stay behind the car going at the same speed as you and keep the right lane clear for others to pass you. Again, another inconsiderate driving habit of some Off-Road / Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) owners like Pajero’s, Unser’s, Rexton’s and the refrigerator-on-wheels looking S600 Mercedes Benz. It is such a waste of money to spend it on a beautiful car that is not driven to its intended potential. This applies to Kancil and in some instances, Ferrari owners as well. Your car may be capable of being modified to go faster but be realistic, you are not driving fast. Then again, I’ve seen a few Kancil’s capable of going faster then some of those supped-up Protons cars.
We know you got a lot of money to blow on your cars but you do not own the road to hog it and drive slowly on the right lane. If you are going to practice the flow, we don’t mind your presence on the right lane, but if you’re not, then let us pass. It’s just common sense, if someone is tailgating you and you don’t like it, move. The only reason we are tailgating you is because we are annoyed at you for hogging the road and you seem oblivious to courteous signals we gave earlier. So, rather than overtake you on the left because that’s just not right, we feel compelled to fear you to never ever drive on the right lane again because you don’t deserve to. It is just as comfortable to drive on the left lane. If you observe carefully, chances are BMW car owners have a higher tendency to drive much better, than Mercedes owners due to the culture it advertises and the mindset that embedded in its owners, as the Ultimate Driving Machine.
I can’t fault everything to the drivers of these vehicles as the way our Malaysian roads are designed also escapes common sense and logic sometimes. God knows how those road planning and contractor guys actually do their work. Similar praise goes to those who dig up and resurface portions of the roads after they have beautifully restored and fully resurfaced the road a few weeks before. Case in point, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar. Don’t even get me started on the pot holes. Those Orange Poles are also a menace. Three areas which fall victim include Jalan Mahameru leading towards PWTC, on Jalan Duta heading towards Jalan Parlimen/Mahameru/KL Sentral split off, and the Section 16 underpass heading towards Kiara. These poles actually aggravate the traffic congestion conditions that reduce. For example the spill over road on Jalan Mahameru previously served as an alternative lane during peak hours allowing for vehicles to move in from 4 lanes to 3 in parallel but now, the Orange Poles have made it worst by funnelling these 4 lanes to 2 causing even bigger bottle neck and jam. Similarly, the 2 other areas mentioned also face the same problem as this is where spill over road space, which could be useful during peak hours, causes drivers to jump queue as they have to merge with the existing lanes. These poles break the flow and cause bottlenecks where it didn’t exist as bad as before.
There’s just so much more I could write about and I know some of you out there can probably add more examples of the idiotic things some drivers do. Sure I’m pissing some of you off. Tit for tat. Put yourselves in my shoes. I’m just giving my two cents worth of what I perceive is a growing problem amongst the regressive mentality and mindset that is rapidly deteriorating the quality and safety of other drivers. The views expressed may be contrary to popular believe, but is a worthwhile alternative that one should not ignore, especially policy makers and the general driving public. What is meant to happen eventually is that you continuously cultivate a habit of experimenting of how to improve as a driver, pushing the boundaries towards understanding your cars limitations and your own driving skills. It makes you a safe active driver and not just a passive commuter.
Back to Part Uno
Back to Main Page
Disclaimer: The author takes no responsibility and accepts no liability for any harm or injury that may arise from practicing any of the content mentioned in this article. Speed can kill if you are not skilled to handle it. Road racing is a dangerous activity. Always observe the law and apply common sense and consideration when driving.
Part Seis - Finale
Poor speed matching and merging lane practice is the main and most common reason for the jam we face. I see it daily. People cutting into lanes at the wrong speeds or wrong entry positions, forcing the people in the destination lane to brake and the person behind them to brake and so on. Then this starts a chain reaction of the stop and go jam because most of these drivers don’t know how to move or accelerate along quickly to dissipate the flow interruption. The jam begins. Most times, you do not have to brake if you are travelling at the near similar speeds. Lifting your feet on or off the accelerator to match the speed is sufficient. It’s like filling in the gaps seamlessly like how a zipper works. If you merge lanes when two cars are side by side or travelling too fast in relation to each other, it wouldn’t work now would it? Please use your indicator lights for the sake of other motorist behind you. You actions become more predictable for their mind mapping and flow.
Similarly, this applies to merging lanes when entering highways, which repeatedly happens along the Federal Highway daily. You should not be slowing down when going into the highway lanes. You should be accelerating and matching the speed of incoming cars and then merge into the traffic. When you slowly enter the lanes, it causes a break in the flow of incoming traffic and subsequently causes a potential problem. This is especially true at the area towards the entrance of the Kerinchi Link highway on the Federal Highway, which coincidentally, is also a victim of poor road planning with no spill over lanes. Indirectly, you become the rock in the path of the river. What needs to be understood is that it is dangerous for the faster moving drivers as we have to avoid a slower vehicle when you break the flow. We are driving around to avoid and accelerating away from you, hence we pose no danger to you. This even applies to the normal roads and this is where the policy of driving slowly equates to safety is in direct conflict with logic. Driving slowly or in a relaxed state of mind, results in the reduction of mental alertness and complacency in skill upgrading towards being a more capable driver.
The reason why this is a common problem in practice is the ignorance of the surroundings behind them. Again not being prejudicial, it is more common with women drivers and some men drivers too regardless of age. The justification is simple. I previously wrote about the perception that cars are mechanical monsters to some drivers and therefore, concentrating on what happens in front of them matters more, trying not to crash into others or injure their own self, thereby completely ignoring their surroundings of flashing high beams and honking from drivers behind them. If you see a line of cars tailing closely to one another on the speed lane, then you know the first car in the line is one of these drivers. The mirrors are simply beauty accessories. Those who know how to treat the car as a friend, on the other hand, have a better chance of being more alert of the drivers behind them and can be more responsive to courtesy.
If it’s a two lane road and you are travelling side by side with another car at slow speeds with obvious empty road space in front, you and the other driver have effectively blocked of any safe path for anyone to get pass. If you don’t intend to drive fast, overtake or stay behind the car going at the same speed as you and keep the right lane clear for others to pass you. Again, another inconsiderate driving habit of some Off-Road / Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) owners like Pajero’s, Unser’s, Rexton’s and the refrigerator-on-wheels looking S600 Mercedes Benz. It is such a waste of money to spend it on a beautiful car that is not driven to its intended potential. This applies to Kancil and in some instances, Ferrari owners as well. Your car may be capable of being modified to go faster but be realistic, you are not driving fast. Then again, I’ve seen a few Kancil’s capable of going faster then some of those supped-up Protons cars.
We know you got a lot of money to blow on your cars but you do not own the road to hog it and drive slowly on the right lane. If you are going to practice the flow, we don’t mind your presence on the right lane, but if you’re not, then let us pass. It’s just common sense, if someone is tailgating you and you don’t like it, move. The only reason we are tailgating you is because we are annoyed at you for hogging the road and you seem oblivious to courteous signals we gave earlier. So, rather than overtake you on the left because that’s just not right, we feel compelled to fear you to never ever drive on the right lane again because you don’t deserve to. It is just as comfortable to drive on the left lane. If you observe carefully, chances are BMW car owners have a higher tendency to drive much better, than Mercedes owners due to the culture it advertises and the mindset that embedded in its owners, as the Ultimate Driving Machine.
I can’t fault everything to the drivers of these vehicles as the way our Malaysian roads are designed also escapes common sense and logic sometimes. God knows how those road planning and contractor guys actually do their work. Similar praise goes to those who dig up and resurface portions of the roads after they have beautifully restored and fully resurfaced the road a few weeks before. Case in point, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar. Don’t even get me started on the pot holes. Those Orange Poles are also a menace. Three areas which fall victim include Jalan Mahameru leading towards PWTC, on Jalan Duta heading towards Jalan Parlimen/Mahameru/KL Sentral split off, and the Section 16 underpass heading towards Kiara. These poles actually aggravate the traffic congestion conditions that reduce. For example the spill over road on Jalan Mahameru previously served as an alternative lane during peak hours allowing for vehicles to move in from 4 lanes to 3 in parallel but now, the Orange Poles have made it worst by funnelling these 4 lanes to 2 causing even bigger bottle neck and jam. Similarly, the 2 other areas mentioned also face the same problem as this is where spill over road space, which could be useful during peak hours, causes drivers to jump queue as they have to merge with the existing lanes. These poles break the flow and cause bottlenecks where it didn’t exist as bad as before.
There’s just so much more I could write about and I know some of you out there can probably add more examples of the idiotic things some drivers do. Sure I’m pissing some of you off. Tit for tat. Put yourselves in my shoes. I’m just giving my two cents worth of what I perceive is a growing problem amongst the regressive mentality and mindset that is rapidly deteriorating the quality and safety of other drivers. The views expressed may be contrary to popular believe, but is a worthwhile alternative that one should not ignore, especially policy makers and the general driving public. What is meant to happen eventually is that you continuously cultivate a habit of experimenting of how to improve as a driver, pushing the boundaries towards understanding your cars limitations and your own driving skills. It makes you a safe active driver and not just a passive commuter.
Back to Part Uno
Back to Main Page
Disclaimer: The author takes no responsibility and accepts no liability for any harm or injury that may arise from practicing any of the content mentioned in this article. Speed can kill if you are not skilled to handle it. Road racing is a dangerous activity. Always observe the law and apply common sense and consideration when driving.
