KLANG: The town of Klang has many stretches of roads with faded road markings causing concern among motorists who say it is a potential danger to them.
It has given rise to incidents of motorists applying brakes abruptly when coming too close to speed breakers with faded yellow paint in their neighbourhoods.
This sudden braking on the road may cause injuries to car occupants or damage to the vehicles, especially if they go over the speed breaker at relatively high speed.
Pedestrians are also at risk if motorists are not able to have a safe drive due to the faded road markings.
The disappearing markings paint a bad image of the Klang Municipal Council (MPK).
Serjeet Singh, a 66-year-old resident and former Water Works Department technical officer, said the fading lines and arrows on the roads made it difficult for motorists to tell when they were in the correct lane and thus, increasing near misses.
“Faded or completely erased pedestrian crossings that give priority to people over vehicular traffic put pedestrians at risk, as motorists will not expect someone to cross the road there.
“One stretch that needs urgent attention is Jalan Mengkuang and Jalan Dato Dollah off Jalan Teluk Pulai.
“Even the yellow box at the intersection of Persiaran Raja Muda Musa and Jalan Hilir below the flyover is not visible,” he said.
Serjeet added that municipal councillors in charge of an area must take the effort to get the faded road lines repainted.
“At some areas with high traffic volume, the painted road arrows, yellow box and speed breakers are hardly visible.
He said painted road kerbs increased visibility in residential areas, making it safer for motorists and pedestrians.
Serjeet wants MPK or Klang District Public Works Department (JKR) to ensure contractors do not dilute the paint used for such markings as it could compromise its durability.
Eugene Tan, 76, a former Port Klang Authority training officer said another example of faded road lines was at the Lebuh Turi roundabout heading to Taman Chi Liung or Taman Palm Grove.
“The lines are barely visible and at night it is worse. Road markings are the basic signal for drivers as road lines guide the driver,” he said.
Tan, who has lived in Taman Palm Grove since 1971, said good road markings made it easier and safer for the elderly to drive around.
“It would be good if MPK could instal reflective raised markers for the interest of safety, so drivers can see the road at night and even during heavy rain.Raman says even the kerbs in Bandar Bukit Tinggi need to be repainted.
Raman says even the kerbs in Bandar Bukit Tinggi need to be repainted.
“I hope the uneven road surface along Persiaran Batu Nilam would be resurfaced and the road lines repainted,” he said.
Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Klang District) special task force council member NP Raman, 75, said most of the faded road markings and kerbs in Bandar Bukit Tinggi needed to be repainted.
He said road lines, markers and kerbs along Persiaran Batu Nilam, Lebuh Batu Nilam, Jalan Batu Nilam 5, Jalan Batu Nilam 1 and the immediate areas needed urgent repainting.
Raman added that by right, area councillors and supervisors should keep tabs on these matters and not expect residents to complain to the council.
“Road markings, like broken white lines and those which indicate vehicle paths are essential. We understand that over time, these markings may become faded due to weather.
“But, they must be repainted. When drivers are not able to see these markings, the chances of an accident may be heightened.”
Raman added that it could be frustrating for accident victims and their families when this matter could be easily fixed to prevent accidents.
“MPK or the Klang district JKR must understand that people who live here face an increased risk of accident because of faded road markings, even for JKR roads like Jalan Langat and Persiaran Raja Muda Musa. It is unacceptable,” he said.
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the issue of faded road markings boiled down to the question of maintenance.
“We have a poor maintenance culture in our country that results in inconvenience to the people.
“I have said this time and again for so many years. Even governments have come and gone but the maintenance culture has not changed or improved. It is still the same,” he said.
He said he was not sure whether the local authorities were hampered by the lack of funds or were indifferent to the matter.
“Another factor is the attitude of those paid for the job.
“They do not do the work competently and this poses a safety issue for all road users,” he said.
Lee also said the service delivery needed to be improved as the effects were borne by the tax-paying public, who deserved good services.
When contacted, MPK Engineering Department director Zamri Othman said the council had begun to repaint the road markings in several housing estates.
“Our council’s Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) allocation for this year is RM24.4mil.
“We will prioritise the repainting of main roads and focus on kerbs at major intersections where there is high traffic through road contract concessions,” he said.
Marris grant is an annual allocation from the Federal Government to the local authorities. — EDWARD RAJENDRA
Keyword: Faded road markings in Klang pose danger to motorists