Logistics specialist Gary Foong said the platform should allow members of the public to provide immediate feedback on road conditions so that the authorities can instantly act on emergencies or road hazards.
Foong said the integrated process should also involve the road transport department (JPJ), Malaysian Highway Authority, police, fire and rescue department, and other relevant agencies.
“Through this ‘control tower’, road users are encouraged to report unsafe practices, road hazards, or accidents to authorities in real-time using a simple messaging tool in a mobile app, WhatsApp or via a hotline,” he told FMT.
Foong, a senior consultant with a private firm, said users could use the platform to report various issues, including the unlawful use of emergency lanes, cars or lorries being driven with wobbly or punctured tyres, or heavy vehicles speeding.
The authorities should then immediately deploy personnel to act on these cases, so as to prevent major traffic accidents, he said.
“In the case of LLM, which is often seen helping change punctured tyres or cars that have broken down, its additional scope could be more on road safety and compliance.”
Foong said the government could encourage the use of the platform by introducing a rewards system for users who report verified road incidents. He suggested giving Touch ‘n Go top-ups or food vouchers that can be used at rest stops along highways.
“A combination of ‘real-time’ enforcement, infrastructure improvements, road safety education, technology and industry collaboration will create safer roads for everyone.”
His comments follow the fatal five-vehicle crash on the North-South Highway near Ayer Keroh, Melaka, last week that claimed seven lives.
Initial investigations found that the crash was caused by a detached tyre from a lorry which landed in the middle lane. A tour bus struck the tyre, causing the vehicle to swerve into the opposite lane and collide with a car, a trailer and an MPV.
Federal traffic police have said accidents involving lorries caused 1,457 deaths over the past six years. This year, 260 deaths have been recorded, the second highest in a single year after the 274 reported in 2019.