Introduce speed limiters for goods vehicles

The following letter was published in the Straits Times forum on 2 July 2010.

Introduce speed limiters for goods vehicles
Jul 2, 2010

I SHARE the sentiments of Mr Stewart Sanjay in his letter last Saturday ("Speeding by lorry drivers the deadliest danger").

Mr Sanjay was spot-on when he mentioned that speeding is the main cause of most accidents involving heavy vehicles. To be fair, however, only a handful of drivers are guilty of speeding.

These days, foreign nationals, mainly from China and India, are employed by companies to transport goods and passengers. These drivers lack experience in handling heavy vehicles and worse, are unfamiliar with our roads.

They speed and take evasive action by jamming on the brake suddenly, resulting in an increasing number of vehicles overturning.

Perhaps the authorities should consider making it compulsory for goods vehicles and heavy vehicles to be fitted with speed limiters. Drivers should also attend defensive driving courses before being allowed to drive heavy vehicles.

Poh Soon Leong