Malaysia Driving Habits

Race Track-Malaysia

Sound funny you might say. But this is the reality. I still remember my first driving experience in my small car, a Kancil (Mouse Deer), a very small and economy car bearing the name of a small deer . Imagine me driving a small car in this so call big racing track! So my first day of driving was of course a gruesome experience. In the States, I might say there is certain order when we drive. But in Malaysia it seems rather chaotic maintain it balance by the sheer force of God.

The basic pointer to drive a car in Malaysia is as follow;

1. If you see a road sign bearing a speed limit, ignore it because no ones ever follow the speed limit.
2. Always maintain and follow the car in front of you closely. Don’t leave too much gap between you and the car in front of you, since the car behind you will always tailgate and try to push you too speed up!
3. Tailgating is ok since I have never saw, heard or know of any one of my friend receiving a ticket doing it.
4. Stay clear of lorry or Tipper Truck carrying stones and rocks. All the time this lorry will spill over small rock and one of them will definitely broke your car windshield or window.
5. Signal is almost useless. The more you signal to switch lane the more they won’t let you in.
6. If you are trapped in a traffic jam, it is ok to use the emergency lane and by pass others and make things harder for the other road users.
7. Lorries, busses and commercial vehicles are big and pays bribe to The Department of Motor Vehicle. Be really careful and watch out for overweight lorry and reckless driver. They seem to be the big, bad and ugly.
8. When you see trucks, lorries and commercial vehicles parked by the road side, be sure you have a valid license and permit from the Department of Motor Vehicle. They are holding a road inspection for commercial vehicle. This big, bad and ugly thing will only start moving after the road check is over.

(I always wonder why this enforcement officer don’t walk to each and every one of these vehicles and inspect them. I guess they are not driving and they are just parked there happily ever after at the road side, it seem they can only be checked and booked if they use the road, sometimes this lines can goes on for a few miles depending on the duration of the road check).

9. If you use the Interstate Highway, you may speed and ignore the speed limit, push as fast as your car can go, be on the look out for luxury cars especially the Mercedes and the BMWs. This rich driver will just flash their highlights and ask you to make ways. If there is a speed trap, spare a few hundred dollars to bribe the Policeman. And don’t get caught!. If you are a law abiding citizen who is rich and don’t give a damn, well you also get a discount and can pay later online.
10. If your car is damaged in an accident and can’t move at all, be really careful since almost definitely you will have to choose among the few Tow truck operator and Call Man, whom have a syndicate to overcharge and con your insurance.
11. If you pass by an accident be careful, since other drivers would try to slow down and memorize the plate number of the damaged car. They seem to believe they can buy a lottery ticket and won!

*I guess with the number of accident in Malaysia, there is a lot of instant millionaires who hit the Jackpot!

12. If you are a pedestrian, be careful when you cross the road. Most driver will speed up and try to pass you. Be extremely careful when crossing even though it’s a green light, since some bikers don’t know the meaning of Red Light!.

13. Don’t worry about Traffic Police, you won’t encounter them at state borders, district or county borders. Be aware there will definitely be a bunch of them during rush hours at the traffic light. Most of the time they won’t be any traffic policeman after 7pm and until the next morning.

* I always wonder where they “disappeared” to. It’s an irony. For instance there is almost none of them sitting by the road or watching the road after office hour.

14. Always on the look out for event and dignitaries function. The whole stretches or county borders will definitely be lined up with Traffic Police. I guess this is where they show up to say they are guarding the road.

15. Provide extreme caution during Saturday night. Biker will definitely group together to form a mob, and show off their skill and noise. A small bike, but have a noise as loud as a jet engine!. I guess this is the notion of Malaysian Boleh! Create a lot of noise and give indication that a small bike is here and give me respect!.

16. Biker doesn’t seem to have any brake and as long as there is room they will definitely try to squeeze in!. Always look out for them since they definitely don’t care about you.

17. When driving at night expect to see bikers without a tail light!

18. If possible try to reduce driving at night. Most Malaysian driver have the liberty to alter this headlight, giving brighter clarity and may hurt your eyes if you are driving on the opposite way.

19. Midnight is the time when teen drivers gamble to see who is the fastest among them and try to out do one another.

20. If a traffic light fails, use all means possible to pass by, the junction will be chaotic and every driver will not wait for the other, the rule of letting one side pass and then your turn, is non existence in their mind.

21. During rush hour always maintain on the right side when reaching a traffic junction, especially in the inner city. Busses and lorries will definitely block the road, since they will always think they are small enough to squeeze in before the light turn red.

The above is some of the myriad behaviors of Malaysian drivers. I don’t mean to offend the Policeman, Department of Motor Vehicle Personnel and the honest working servant of the Law. But the reality is as I have mentioned.

So with the above in mind imagine me driving a small car on the road. It won’t be hard for readers to imagine, a Mouse Deer racing on NASCAR biggest track, with the entire participant trying to outrace each other, and there is no referee in sight. What a sight!.

Let see what some of the local news have to say;to be continue