Cameron Highlands Bus Tragedy - 26 killed !!!

[silver_bird]

Today, Dec 20, 2010 : 26 passengers died in Cameron Highlands bus tragedy

# Nov 23, 2003 : 14 killed killed near the Pahang-Kelantan border.

# July 30, 2006 : 11 pilgrims killed at Nibong Tebal

# March 9, 2007 : 6 killed near the Sg Perak rest and recreation area

# Aug 13, 2007 : 22 near the Bukit Gantang rest area

# Dec 7, 2008 : 10 killed near Pagoh, Johor

# Dec 25, 2009 : 10 killed near Ipoh Selatan toll plaza

# Oct 10, 2010 : 13 killed near Simpang Ampat toll plaza

# Oct 29, 2010 : 7 killed at Genting Sempah

# Dec 17, 2010 : 4 killed at Tambunan-Kota Kinabalu trunk road

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...044&sec=nation

Why so many innocent victims had to perish !!!

[cml]

And they are still talking about doing this and that!!. We have all the laws but the prosecution is practically non existent. We do not know the cause of the accident yet but as usual there will be a round of condemnations from allthe different departments and that's it.

[coogee]

This is real sad and it's incredible those minister/s and officers in charge still have the decency to continue holding the portfolio. Something so basic as human and road safety are forsaken time and again, what is wrong with this country? And they want to make this a high income country and the rubbish talk of bringing back talented Malaysians, for what? What are the country priorities if it does not start with taking care of her own people first?

[Sentinel]

... and the brand new stadium in Kuala Trengganu collapsed, the parliament house continues to leak during the rainy season... did I hear some fella talking about building a nuclear plant by 2012?

[tupai]

... and the brand new stadium in Kuala Trengganu collapsed, the parliament house continues to leak during the rainy season... did I hear some fella talking about building a nuclear plant by 2012?

knowing the bolehstandard, we just might be staring at a potential chenobylwannabe. Be afraid. Be very VERY afraid.

http://villageofjoy.com/chernobyl-to...d-in-pictures/

those with fleet of vehicles and having to deal with the inspection unit at puspakon will simply nod, shake head as to the when & why this initial/presumably defense of 'brake failure' will arise.

Yang Bo-konfiden latotupai

p.s. Probably for me, the time to get outta this wonderful country is when bolehlanders start to build nuclear plants disinisana...

[zinglicious]

Wonder why Ipoh despite the strategic locality and glory of tin mining towkays dwindled in developement? Probably long as thought like Tupai and migrated to other states, some say to USA or USJ. The nuclear toxic waste at Papan and the potential dangers of leaks if flow downstream of Kinta river which connnects all the way right at Ipoh city!
If Bushpacome cant even ensure the compliance of road safety, how reliable and competence are the bodies or agencies ensuring accidents of leaks from stadium, parliment house to courtroom from collasped?

[Sentinel]

Hmmm... what the heck is a double-decker bus doing taking tourists up a hill resort? Double-decker?

[silver_bird]

Deceased :
25 - Thai national
2 - Local (including driver)

# Cameron Highlands tragedy is the deadliest bus crash in Malaysia

# According to WHO study, Malaysia has the highest rate of road traffic fatalities in Southeast Asia, with 23.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2009.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/m...adliest-crash/

What have PM, Malaysia Road Safety Council, Ministry of Transport etc, etc have to say about WHO's findings ?

[cskok8]

Hmmm... what the heck is a double-decker bus doing taking tourists up a hill resort? Double-decker?

That has been my question since the first double decker express buses were introduced. They were meant for high-density routes in cities. Nowhere else in the world would you see double decker buses being used other than in crowded cities like London, Singapore and Hong Kong. But then each bus costs > RM 500,000.

[Sentinel]

That has been my question since the first double decker express buses were introduced. They were meant for high-density routes in cities. Nowhere else in the world would you see double decker buses being used other than in crowded cities like London, Singapore and Hong Kong. But then each bus costs > RM 500,000.

Doc, these double-deckers all have drum brakes, not disc-brakes- same as the single-deck ones. Imagine the same drum brakes of a bus weighing almost twice as heavy going downhill which requires constant braking... how the heck would a double-decker be used on mountainous roads with winding uphills and downhills? Who issued the permit for a double decker to be used for fetching tourists up Cameron Highlands?

[kwchang]

... Imagine the same drum brakes of a bus weighing almost twice as heavy going downhill which requires constant braking...

This is where the problem lies with people driving downhill - regardless whether it is a bus or a car ... do you constantly apply the brakes going downhill? That is a sure-fire way to create brake failure !!

When I drive down Camerons, Frazer's or Genting - I only use the brakes on a small part of the way ... most of the time I drive down on low gear. That is the best way to slow down, NOT on brakes.

I always say that these downhill crashes due to brake failures are caused by bus drivers who are uneducated to the proper way of using gears. I wonder if the authorities actually test bus drivers if they know this simple requirement

[bslee]

If its true that this land have the highest OR among the highest rate of road accidents (don't even mention traffic offences which is even WORSE), its obvious many issues or governance is seriously questionable, lacking or appaling standards. Its easy to point fingers at JPJ, Puspakom,the public transport or whoever thats associated in this business and ALL of them are directly or indirectly responsible for these unfortunate and awry events. I won't believe for a minute that this kind of accidents are "sudah takdir" or its just another horror. I can only shake my head and feel sad this country is running aground for all the wrong reasons.

[silver_bird]

Slide Show of the tragedy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=ai8PZq9eH20

[Sentinel]

This is where the problem lies with people driving downhill - regardless whether it is a bus or a car ... do you constantly apply the brakes going downhill? That is a sure-fire way to create brake failure !!

When I drive down Camerons, Frazer's or Genting - I only use the brakes on a small part of the way ... most of the time I drive down on low gear. That is the best way to slow down, NOT on brakes.

I always say that these downhill crashes due to brake failures are caused by bus drivers who are uneducated to the proper way of using gears. I wonder if the authorities actually test bus drivers if they know this simple requirement

Chang, even if they use the brakes sparingly (and depend on low gears) the extended distance all the way down Cameron Highlands would easily wear out the brake pads...

Remember the Changkat Jering stretch going towards Ipoh Toll at Jelapang? That was only a short downhill but the number of lorries and buses taking aim at the toll booths those days were alarming...

p.s. For cars, they are mostly on disc brakes Chang... chances of the pad or the disc wearing out going downhill is not that great. There are usually 8 calipers...

[HTCHONG]

Last Thursday, when I travelled from Singapore to USJ, near Tangkak at Johor, there was this "express" bus tailing behind and it came so close to my car. I was travelling at 2nd lane at about 100 Km/h, when the 1st lane was clear, the bus overtook me and speed up, within seconds the express bus was out of my sight. I told my wife, the speed limit written behind the bus was 90Km/h and I thought there suppose to have tachograph within the bus…what a joke!!

In fact, this country has all rules to curb the problem but the enforcement is so poor. Is this the consequence of poor enforcement? Well, your guess is as good as mine.