INTRODUCTION

Road accident, or traffic collision, had become a major issue ever since the first steam-car

was invented and introduced to the world. However, the occurrence of accidents has become

too frequent and can be said, almost every hour. Besides diseases, accident is the major factor

of fatality, not only in Malaysia but also worldwide. Looking back to 1869, the first death,

involving motor vehicle occurred to Mary Ward, an Irish scientist who accidently fell off her

cousin steam car and was run over by it. Ever since then, the rate of road accident is

increasing tremendously especially during festival seasons such as Hari Raya, Deepavali and

more. In Malaysia alone, it is estimated that the Government experienced RM 9.3 billion loss

a year due to accident in 2009. Most victims are motorcyclists as they are more exposed to

danger compared to car driver.

There are actually many factors contributing to road accident; be it the vehicle defect or the

faulty of the driver, both give more or less contribution. Not only that, the condition of the

road and the weather can also be one of the factors contributing to the rate of accident. But

most importantly, it is how people behave when they are on the road. It is very much

advisable not to drive when we are in unstable emotional state as it affects our judgement and

rationality. People with unstable emotion tend to speed while they are driving, and this is

very dangerous not only for themselves but also to other road users.

The Government, especially, has to play a very important role in reducing, if not preventing,

the rate of accident as well as to maintain the economic growth and also the good name our

beloved country. Logically, high accident rate will give a very bad name and reputation to

Malaysia. Sure enough that we do not want the foreigners to see Malaysians as careless and

bad road users.

ARTICLE #1

BODIES OF MALAYSIA CRASH VICTIMS FLOWN HOME

(AFP) – Dec 22, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR — The bodies of 25 Thai victims of Malaysia's worst bus crash were taken home
Wednesday aboard a Thai air force plane, as authorities announced an independent probe into the accident.
The Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur said the remains of those who died in Monday's horrific smash were loaded
onto a C-130 transporter plane at a military airbase on the outskirts of the capital.
Some survivors of the crash, as well as relatives and friends of the dead, went home on a second aircraft.
"A Buddhist monk who came along with the planes performed a very brief ritual and then both planes departed,"
First Secretary Suwit Mangkhala told AFP.
Buddhist monks also said prayers for the dead early Wednesday in northern Perak state, where the accident
occurred, before the bodies were flown to Kuala Lumpur.
The monks, embassy officials and family members knelt and offered prayers in front of the 25 coffins, which
were draped in white cloth and arranged in two rows outside a hospital mortuary, the Star newspaper reported.
Joss sticks were lit and offerings of yellow chrysanthemums made to the deceased before the coffins began their
journey.
The Thai holidaymakers had been returning from a trip to the Cameron Highlands on Monday when their
double-decker bus lost control near a sharp bend, crashed through a road divider and overturned into a ditch.
The accident sheared off the bus's roof and left dismembered bodies strewn across the road. Twenty-seven
people were killed including two Malaysians -- the driver and a tour guide.
Transport minister Kong Cho Ha said Wednesday the government would set up an independent board of inquiry
to look into the crash and the overall structure of commercial vehicle operations in the country, state media
reported.
Road safety experts reportedly said the double-decker bus involved in the accident was unsuitable for travel on
steep ground as it had a higher centre of gravity, making it more unstable than single-deck vehicles.
"The bus can become unstable when going uphill or when travelling at a higher speed," Wong Shaw Voon, a
senior official with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), which has been tasked with
investigating the accident, told the Star.
"This is especially when drivers negotiate sharp bends," he said, adding that all the passengers had been sitting
on the upper deck, which could have shifted the vehicle's centre of gravity.
Coach accidents are relatively common in Malaysia, often involving interstate routes and accompanied by
revelations that drivers were unlicensed, speeding or under the influence of drugs to keep themselves awake.

[Taken from hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gxOrktSQURDS2va4nZkclH-8sa5w?docId=CNG.5d4e3ad6aacaaf0fa980ad59596e6f9c.151]

NOTE MAKING TECHNIQUE: FLOW CHART

Government set up a board to monitor

commercial vehicle operations

Had rituals and

prays by monks

Taken back to
Thailand
Went home

Survivors Deceases

After

Bus Crash at Cameron Highlands

Before

The bus is on the way returning from Cameron Highland

The bus is travelling at high speed

Lost control at sharp bend

Crashed on the road divider

Got overturned

Passengers thrown out of the bus due to sheared roof.

The flow chart technique is used in this article, specifically to show the flow of the incident.
The article basically tells us about the authorities’ actions after the accident occurred.
VOCABULLARY LIST

Probe:

Smash:

Outskirts:

Mortuary:

Deceased:

Ditch:

Coach:
ARTICLE #2 (siti hajar’s)
ARTICLE #3 (k.anis)
NOTE MAKING TECHNIQUE: TIMELINE
VOCABULARY LIST

1. Swept

To move or push with a lot of force

To move in away thay impress or is intended to impress people

2. Collided

To crash to hit;very hard while moving

3. Skidded

To suddenly slide forword of sideways without any control

4. Trapped

To keep;in a dangerous place or a bad solution from which he/she cannot escape

5. Burst

To break open suddenly and violently,usually becouse there is to much pressure inside

6. Overcrowded

(used about a place) with too many people inside

7. Hurriacane

A violent storm with very strong winds

8. Smashed

To move with great force in a particular direction; to hit ; very hard

To crash a vehicle,usually causing a lot of damage

ARTICLE #4 (NEWS PAPER CLIP-AINA)
SUMMARY

Three friends, in their way from a gathering Seri Kembangan died in an accident involving

them and another car. Choong the driver, tired to make on u-turn while he was on the middle

lane of the Federal Highway. The officer said that the Kancil was rammed by the Proton

Waja and two victims, Choong and Liew died on the spot while Tony died at University

Malaya Medical Centre. The Proton Waja’s driver, who is seriously injured, is admitted to

the UMMC Intensive Care Unit. In another case a police constable was hit by a car and broke

his leg. He is currently being treated at the Sungai Buloh Hospital and in a stable condition.
PREVENTION and PRECAUTIONS

Basically, there is no definite way to stop traffic accident from occurring, but as the users we

can always train ourselves to be careful, enough to save some life. It can happens almost

everywhere, be it the on a highway or at the small alley at the back of our house. But, when

we are talking about road accident, let’s look from a wider point of view and not as an

individual. Recently, the awful tragedy occurred at Cameron Highlands killed almost 27

people, most are Siamese and 2 Malaysians, has somehow bring bad name to the Malaysia

Government, on how they imply the rule of industrial and tourism vehicle. It is being

questioned though whether the reinforcement of those rules is enough or loose. Malaysians,

not only the Government, but also its people, should look into this matter, seriously, as it’s

the name of our nation at stake, not others’.

Parents should play their role as everything begins at home, and children spend most of their

time with them. Parents should show good example while driving to the children. Driving the

car at the appropriate speed, focusing on the road, following the road signs and so on and so

forth can be the first step in instilling the good example to the children. Not only that, they

can take their children to the road safety event organized by the authority. Usually in this

kind of event, kids especially, get to involve with real-life situation, where they have to drive

a car- of course not a real car, but more to a ride-able toy car- and they have to follow every

signboard besides the road. Marks will be deducted if rules are not followed and the kid with

the highest marks will be given prizes. This event is not only effective but also an interactive

and fun way to educate the youngsters about the road safety rules.

Children can be tired after staying for too long in the car. As the driver and also as the parent,

it is very important to keep focusing on the road and not being distracted by anything. Most

of the time, when children are tired and bored, they will throw tantrum and this can take the

driver’s attention from the road. There are a few tricks that might work to cast away the

boredom plus instilling the knowledge of road safety in children. Having a brief chit-chat
with the kids on how they can play their role in keeping the journey safe before setting out

can be a help. Setting up a spotting game can be a good idea, where the children are asked to

spot certain road signs or other distinguished features. If this does not work, a portable dvd

player is always a worth to bring around. Not only that, game console can keep the children

occupied for some time.

Also, a well planned journey is highly encouraged for the comfort of, not only the passengers

but also the driver. Time management plays quite a role here, as a few stops can be made

during the journey and this can help the driver to feel refreshed. Not only that, on a long,

tiring trip, it is advisable to have a co-driver so that turns can be taken to drive the car.

Then, road users, should educate themselves to be patient while they are on the road, no

matter they are driving or just walking by the side walk, it is very crucial to behave properly

on the road as danger might be just about everywhere. Drivers, especially, should not speed

above the limit and should stay at one lane if there is no need to overtake another. It is very

dangerous though, to change lane blindly, without caring about other road users. Then,

drivers should always keep a safe distance with the front car to avoid any massive damage

caused by collision if emergency brake were to happen. Motorcyclist is known as the highest

victim of accident as they are more exposed to danger compared to the four-tyre vehicle

driver. They should take precautions also such as wearing the helmet, riding at the right speed

and at the proper lane if available. They should not keep on changing lanes as we can see on

the road nowadays. Extra patience is highly required especially during prime time; in the

morning, when people are rushing to work, or in the evening, when they are on their journey

to home; as this is time when the traffic is most congested. It is advisable to avoid the jam

than to be in it because it sometimes can last for hours. It is no harm to travel a bit far from

the normal route as long as we arrive safely to our destination. Using the alternative route can

be a help when dealing with traffic jams. It is to be remembered that pedestrians are not

excluded from involving into road accident. It is encouraged for them to use the pedestrians’
side walk most of the time and also the pedestrians’ bridge when crossing a heavy traffic

road.

It should also be ensured, by the government, that the roads of a country are well lighted in

the night. Some drivers are unable to see oncoming vehicles in time and thus collide, causing

death or injury. Government should prepare more alternative roads to prevent massive traffic

congestion from occurring. Furthermore, the government should ensure that there is proper

maintenance of infrastructure. Should impediments such as pot holes, branches etc be

removed, roads will be made safer to a significant degree. When we talk about maintenance

of the infrastructure, it should include proper lighting of the road, the well-functioned traffic

light, properly maintained road signs and more.

Also, the authorities should play their role in investing more on road safety campaigns. Make

the campaigns as attractive as possible especially to youngsters to keep them aware of the

importance of abiding the road safety rules. Events and activities should be organized more

frequently as to encourage the society from all sort of life to participate. Talks should be

given at schools by the local authorities to the importance of behaving properly on the road,

for instance. Not only that, clubs can be formed at schools and flyers can be distributed to

students in promoting the road safety campaigns.

All in all, everybody, starting from the road users to the Government, play a crucial role in

preventing accidents from keep on occurring. It is indeed a problem that needs the integration

solution from all walks of life.