TIME and again I notice that after a road accident, the vehicles are left as they were.

This is a fairly common occurrence with rear-end collisions in which the liability is clearly and simply on the owner whose vehicle hit the rear of the vehicle in front.

When such an accident happens, the driver of the front vehicle should note down the offending vehicle’s number from the rear view mirror and keep moving, especially now that this has become the modus operandi of some robbers.

Early in the morning of Feb 9, a car hit a lamppost at a traffic junction along Jalan Masjid Negeri and was left obstructing traffic flow. Jalan Masjid Negeri is one of the busiest roads on Penang Island.

Though the hazard lights of the vehicle were on, the flow of vehicles was disrupted.

To add to the confusion, factory buses plying this route failed to exercise simple courtesy and were senselessly pressing their horn when approaching the spot.

The motoring public should realise that vehicles left obstructing other road users increases the likelihood of further collisions.

If no one is seriously injured and the vehicles are not disabled, the damaged vehicles should be moved to a safe place and the road cleared soonest possible.

Damage claims can be settled subsequently.

Also be warned that the police have the authority to issue summonses to vehicles obstructing traffic.

The insurance industry has a lead role to play in this by printing in the policy advisory: “Remove damaged vehicle immediately to a safe spot following an accident, if your vehicle is not disabled and no one is seriously injured.”

DR PL NARAYANAN,

Penang.

Source: The Star – February 17, 2008