While PDRM has said that government vehicles using beacons and sirens must prioritise other road users’ safety, this hasn’t always been the case, and road safety experts say that the rules governing the use of sirens and beacon lights by emergency vehicles and VIP escorts are in need a review, with a clear, uniform criteria on when these can be activated, who can authorise their use and under what circumstances.
They said that escort movements must be made safer and more predictable for other road users, with standard procedures covering speed, lane changes, overtaking and intersections, while giving motorists enough time to react. More importantly, they stated that such privileges should be treated as an operational necessity, not an automatic entitlement based on rank or status, the New Straits Times reports.
According to Universiti Putra Malaysia road safety research centre head, associate professor Law Teik Hua, the review should examine how escort movements are conducted, as the main hazard was not the sirens or escort vehicles themselves, but how priority movements were carried out.
Law said that while sirens and beacons indicate that emergency and escort vehicles had priority, drivers could still be unaware of their presence until the last moment. “This is especially dangerous at intersections, where ordinary drivers might not realise where the escort car is coming from or whether there are other vehicles that have been stopped,” he said.
He said a dedicated standard operating procedure would be the most effective way to improve VIP and emergency movements. The SOP should specify when sirens and beacons can be used, permissible speed limits, procedures for lane changes and overtaking as well as mandatory speed reductions at intersections and crossings.
Road Safety Council member and social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye echoed the call for a full review of the rules. He said concerns regarding this were justified, as VIP escorts and certain emergency vehicles often moved on the roads in ways that put other drivers at risk. As a result, he said that drivers have to brake hard, swerve into crowded lanes, or slow down suddenly, often with barely enough time to react safely.
“It is even more worrying when sirens and beacon lights are treated not as urgent warnings, but as a free pass. Some drivers seem to think that with a siren, speed limits do not matter and red lights need not be obeyed. They expect every other road user to get out of the way instantly, without thinking about road conditions or other people’s safety,” he said.
Lee said that while most agree that the prime minister, royalty and official foreign guests deserved such escorts, their use should be an exception rather than a right for ministers and senior officials.”These are safety tools, not symbols of status,” he said.
“No one is above the law. A siren does not cancel traffic rules, and a flashing light does not make safety less important. Every road user, no matter their rank, deserves to travel safely, and every road user must drive with care,” he added.
Senior criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy proposed a three-tier framework covering security, operational necessity and ceremonial or protocol movements, with traffic priority normally limited to the first two when objectively justified.
He said that while the law regulated the fitting and use of special warning lights, with authorised categories specified, there is an important distinction between being authorised to possess or use an emergency warning device and being justified in activating it for a particular journey. “Rank alone should not create an automatic entitlement,” he said, adding that protection did not necessarily require sirens and flashing lights on every journey.
wont work if you ask THEM to govern themselves. Just look at Lembaga Tabung Haji. stealing muslim’s money since early 2000 undetected until now. zero shame. zero fear of islam.
Got control rempit? They also vip!
Start with PDRM. There is no need for the beacon to be lit and flashing when they are just driving around. Pursuit/traffic stops etc then fine, have it lit. This was SOP before the new patrol cars were introduced. Otherwise other road users kena alarm fatigue. How to know when they want us to stop if the beacon is lit all the time? I’ve seen patrol cars stopped outside a school because the officer is picking up their child. Beacon on apasal?
Next put maximum speed limits for emergency vehicles eg 40kmh above the posted speed limit. Just because the beacons and sirens are on is not a carte blanche to endanger other users. PDRM highway patrol car then lain SOP la if they’re going to chase people BUT that also comes with its own dangers to everyone involved.
As usual people must die before the authorities start to use their neurons.
Just wayang saja after something happened, no real action will be taken, it will silently sweep under the carpet like all those other case before!
Involve the “Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia” or FASc or I call it fascist too. Our police’s siren is too slow compared to other country like UK. We dont use physics enough.
Why focus only beacon light? Focus on strobing light too.
Investigate also on Police’s using emergency signals while using the siren. They look stup** when they do that.
It’s more lack of proper training reason why patrol cars have blinking lights on while on patrol.
its not lack of proper training but few years ago, they started to have SOP to always on the strobe lights . dont know for what stupid reason maybe they want criminals to notice them from far away .
Vip my foot
Those pakai siren..pakai lah otak.
The Immigration black maria driver run a red light to pick up PATI.If u miss 5 PATI,whats the problem? Can always have a second “finishing up” operasi.
PATI IN MSIA EASILY ONE JUTA. Can u finish catching one juta Pati in a single operasi?
A recent ambulance driver severely injured innocent bystanders running a red light.While trying to save a life,he might have killed a few.
And the worst of all,when a famous banduan goes for mahkamah,the 1km stretch from Kajang prison comes to a halt.
Like mamak says “let there be rule of law” .Not anarchy.
Yup, time to seriously introduce Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC).
I’m sure there are defensive driving course provided to KKM, Bomba, Pertahanan Awam, JSPT and other enforcements alike, MP Sepang, DBKL, Imigresen, Penjara, Provos TLDM, TUDM, MP Tentera Darat, and many…many others unbeknownst to the general public.
It’s good if the course are to be made mandatory for annual refresher course, or every 2 years while the operators renewing their driving license. Good practice of these operators is they should completely stop at the intersection, allow road users to see (strobes lights) hear (Sirens) ensure safe passage, then only proceed to destination.
In the US, these equipment are aptly name “Public Safety Equipment” (PSE) and for the obvious reason, Public Safety. These equipment are set of the highest standard in terms of lights and audible output “SAE Class 1” meaning for application of Law Enforcement or Emergency Vehicles. while SAE Class 2 are meant for others including towing, hearse, construction, utilities, and such. While the lowest output SAE Class 3 are meant for indoor or closed area warehouse, security (imagine forklifts, reach trucks, electric golf cart patrol, scooters etc).
Now It may not be of highest importance in the Malaysian context, (because we are not super dense like New York or Tokyo metropolis), but the traffic congestion is growing, and city area is getting populated, so JPJ might want to revisit the “Bare MINIMUM” requirement for quality Public Safety Equipment. Mind you, some upfitter may claim “good quality” cheaper price lights but those lights are sourced from Ali Baba and the light output will fade in just around 1~2 year of use, which pales in comparison to named brand which can last close to 10~15 years, which outlive the fleet vehicles.
Also, PDRM Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) switch on their beacon almost all the time to create civil awareness by heightened visibility, to deter potential crimes, this happens all over the world not just Malaysia. If you notice, BOMBA will also always turn on the emergency lights regardless running to a call or not, it’s their safety practice, be it a light 4X4 utility pickup, the Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) or the Light Rescue Fire Tender (LRFT), the BOMBA truck you often come across they are always lit while on the road.
So I believe there is a guideline, but need improvement especially on training and awareness.
The picture in the column says it all. Why the VIP need entire 3 lanes instead of just 1.
I’ve loss count the number of occurrences between the daily morning rush hour police escorting trucks with criminals heading to the court and VIP escorts (not PM or foreign dignitaries) that are just plain dangerous and pure disregard of public safety. For the daily ferrying of criminals to the court, I wonder why the police would want to do it during the morning rush hour when this can be planned a lot better. They should adjust their timing around the rush hour as this is NOT an emergency! They could easily send the criminals much earlier or after the rush hour. Secondly, there are just too many so called VIP escorts and they also do this during the rush hour. It’s as if, the public’s time is less important than theirs. Why should we the taxpayers need to give way to these VIPs when they should be the one serving the public? As always, keep the rule simple – emergency traffic should be for ambulances, fire engine and police vehicles functioning under emergencies.
VIP escorts should only apply to Head of states ie Agong, Sultan, Prime Minister.
Their family members should not be included as it is leisure not work
Ministers also excluded except in situation of emergencies eg War cabinet meeting
Foreign head of states Yes
How much resource are we spending annually for these non-essential “VIP” escorts?
Is this the primary role of our traffic police? Hardly seen enforcing traffic laws.
Let the ministers experience the jam like the rest of us Malaysians, if you’re truly representing the Rakyat.
Review the use of sirens?? Pls review the use of basic seatbelt by enforcers themselves 1st..
Review the use of sirens?? Pls review the basic use of seatbelts by enforcers first.
It should be just for ambulance, fire department, and the king and sultans. Now everyone has an outrider and their behaviour is utterly terrifying when they want to clear a path. They bulldoze you without considering safety road users
Really hate this whole VIP CONVOY crap, roads already jam summore need to make way for these asshats. We should come together and just ignore them, let them stuck in traffic as well.