| Daniel Lim |
THE number of fatal incidents involving road users especially cyclists, runners and pedestrians in recent months has been alarming. All must respect the rules of the road to stem this trend, said YB Iswandy bin Ahmad, a Legislative Council member.
He made these comments during a road safety campaign held by the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) in conjunction with KBku Ceria at the Silver Jubilee Park in Kuala Belait yesterday.
YB Iswandy, in his capacity as an NRSC ambassador, said, “These rules include ensuring all passengers fasten their safety belts and leaving ample space between cars and other road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.”
“The mindset of prioritising road safety is also key; we should not just be aware of road safety regulations but also follow them and chastise people who are not adhering to the rules – those who use the mobile phones or text while driving,” he added.
A booth was also set up at the event to disseminate information on the importance of road safety and Motor Claims Guideline (MCG) which was established on August 14, 2017.
Speaking on the MCG, Haji Osman bin Haji Md Jair, chief executive of Brunei Insurance and Takaful Association (BITA) and NRSC ambassador said the guidelines aim to provide Brunei motor insurers with clear procedures to take in the event of a motor accident.
“Scenarios that fall under the MCG include accidents not resulting to any injuries or fatalities or damage to government properties,” he said. “It is important to take pictures of the accident in addition to the damages to the vehicles, and exchange information between all parties.”
Haji Osman advised road users to ensure their vehicles are compliant with the guidelines set by the authorities, ensure their road tax is properly renewed, and have all relevant documentation relating to car insurance and their takaful certificate readily available and valid, as “the respective insurance companies can reject the accident claim if any required document is not valid or has expired”.
Pamphlets titled ‘Share the Road: Responsibility for All’ were also distributed by NRSC ambassadors YB Iswandy and Haji Osman to cyclists participating in the KBku Ceria cycling event. The pamphlets provide guidelines, tips on the responsibilities of motorists, cyclists and runners to help ensure the safety of all road users in Brunei.
Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, the Minister of Communications and chairman of the NRSC; Haji Azhar bin Haji Ahmad, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications (MinCom) and a member of the NRSC; Dr Supry bin Haji Awang Ladi, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MinCom and secretary of the NRSC; and officers and staff from the NRSC and MinCom were also present.
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