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Your North-South highway survival guide(user-posted sharing)


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LEARN TO SURVIVE HIGHWAY THUGS

Experts provide tips on how to protect yourself while driving up North

By Tan Mae Lynn

June 04, 2007

 

 

YOU are driving in Malaysia and have to make a pit stop along the highway.

 

 

A man walks to your car, brandishes a knife and orders you to open the door.

 

What should you do?

 

Judging from the reaction of Singapore motorists involved in recent crimes, few know how to react when faced with such scenarios.

 

Recently, a Malaysian woman, whose husband works in Singapore, opened the car door to an armed man while her husband was at the washroom of a petrol station in Tampoi, Johor.

 

The assailant drove off with her and her young son in the car to a secluded spot where he and an accomplice took turns to rape the 28-year-old pregnant woman.

 

In other cases, Singaporeans were accosted by robbers.

 

Said Mr Lionel de Souza, a former police officer: 'If you're on a highway and being pursued, try and make a dash for a police station or a crowded area.

 

'If you're outnumbered, just give them what they want. It doesn't feel good to lose something, but your life is more important. You can always earn money back.'

 

He also suggested driving to Malaysia in a convoy.

 

'At least if one is hijacked, the others can get help,' he said.

 

'And don't drive a flashy car.'

 

Professional race driver Denis Lian, 35, who drives into Malaysia quite frequently, said the last thing motorists should do is open the door to strangers.

 

He said: 'When you open your car door, or when you just step into your car, you're at your most vulnerable.

 

CHECK MIRROR

 

'Before you come to a stop, look in your mirrors and see who's around or approaching. If you see anyone around who looks suspicious, or hovering around, or anyone who just makes you feel uncomfortable, drive off.'

 

And never, ever get out of your car when faced with a suspicious situation.

 

'Your car is your weapon and your only defence.

 

'It's much safer behind the glass window... It's unlikely the person will smash the window - it's very difficult to do that.'

 

Agreeing, Mr Tan Teng Lip, president of the Singapore Motorsports Association, added: 'Make sure you car is locked from the inside. Never wind down the window to speak to strangers. If you sense trouble, sound your horn to attract attention.'

 

AVOID STOPPING

 

As many Singapore families are expected to head north during the current school holidays, it may be prudent for them to be prepared for overseas road trips.

 

Chief editor of Wheels Asia magazine, Mr Mazlan Samad, advised that even when someone bumps into the back of your car or causes you to hit into their car by braking suddenly, you shouldn't stop the car.

 

He cited these as some of the common tactics robbers use to get motorists to stop their vehicles.

 

'If you're in foreign territory, alone or don't feel safe enough, take note of the car number but don't get off. Just drive to the nearest police post or petrol station to get help.'

 

He also advised that it would be prudent to note down the telephone number of the traffic police or traffic emergency services in whichever country you'll be driving in.

 

General manager of the Automobile Association of Malaysia, Mr Samuel Saik, added: 'If there's an accident, there's not much you can do anyway. It's better to make the call for the person than to put yourself at risk by getting out of the car.'

 

Also, always keep to the main road and never stop at secluded spots for rest or toilet breaks, especially when driving alone and at night.

 

'Even Malaysians don't do that,' he said.

 

source: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,...,132157,00.html?

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Neutral Newbie

FOLKS ....BE ALERT when on the NS highway...whether it is DAY or Night.

 

Timely to share this. Dated 4 June 2007.

 

Those Flyovers over the NS highway near Pagoh, Pedas, Ayer Keroh...etc. Please be on the look-out.

 

Stones, metal rods and bars ...etc are thrown to "projectile" onto your vehicles. This is pre-staged to cause an accidents.

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bro, that's the problem !

 

becos the owns authorities has not been doing their jobs....still asking for 'kopi' $$$, so that's why those robbers are getting more more daring....cos they know they sure get away with it....

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Neutral Newbie

Saturday June 1, 2007. Timely to share this as a DEADLY CAUTION to all FOLKS driving on NS highway.

 

A MPV (Carnival) headings towards KL on the middle lane - around 1 pm just at about KM 240 mark (south direction towards JB) - after the PEDAS Flyover and some road works expansion with a couple of excavators machinery barricaded within the middle divider. No one was working on that day and yet - something deadly happened.

 

Suddenly a massive iron bar about 4 feet long 3-4 inches wide from nowhere just smashed and punched a hole through the windscreen on the driver side...grazed the driver right cheek and smacked on his nose and mouth! Landed across behind the driver seat and fortunately just grazed a young lad leg.

 

Managed to stop by the side ...bleeding profusely and in great pains...children hysterical and crying ...Daddy bleeding!...and wife...waving frantically to oncoming traffic for help. None stopped. Motorists thought she was mad or trying to stage something funny.

 

Finally, she stood in the middle of the road to get some kind motorist...an Indian couple (apparently who works in the university) to stop and assist.

 

The Indian man drove the driver and wife to the nearest Seremban private hospital (ColumbiaASIA) near the Seremban exit (3rd exit). The Indian wife stayed on with the children till relative came to help. At about 3pm emergency operation was performed on him to stop the bleeding. The iron struck him on the nose bridge, fractured and dislocated the lower jaws...several frontal teeth gone.

 

When first heard the news about 6pm (Sat)- it was serious injury, in coma, now out of surgery...my heart sank and cried out to heaven

 

On early Sunday morning (3 Jun) 6am hit the NS highway to see him. Whole face was swollen up and bruised, eyes shut tight (cannot open), still minor bleeding inside the mouth and nose, tubes, drip, in ICU ward....our tear flows, sad and grief at his horrendous injuries.

 

Wife and relatives filed the accident report at Seremban Central Police station same afternoon. Phone camera picture of the iron bar...was beyond comprehension...massive weight about 10-20kg...extremely difficult for any man to fling that bar ...kind of bar used on lorry or heavy machinery.

 

Fortunately, he was awaked in the afternoon, managed to mumbled and communicated. We are gladly relief. Meaning mental faculty was intact and no visible massive injury to the facial nerve...now pending the maxilo-facial surgeon for any further surgery.

 

We encouraged him to be strong for his family and prayed for his healing. We believed he was pretty fortunate too.

 

Dread to think...if the iron bar had struck an inch higher or lower could have been more serious and fatal.

 

He is my brother with his wife and kids.

 

SO FOLKS be ALERT and SAFE Driving on the NS highway.

 

PS: Prayerfully he will recovered fully. Now pending advice to report the accident in the local newspaper. Apparently, immediately after the accident, a tow truck came. Hearsay these evil-culprits who pre-stage these accidents get a commission. That's the NS highway FOLKS! BEWARE BE-CAUTION & BE SAFE!

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Bros,

 

One big advice I would like to give to ensure survival on NSH.

 

If you are going at 140-160, think you are fast and can keep to the right lane, WRONG! Plse try to give way to cars coming up behind you. Malaysian cars do go at 200+ and won't hesistate to overtake you dangerously. I've seen once a highly modified malaysian wira overtake right in front of a Singapore car, causing him to lose control and scrap the side of the expressway.

 

Cheers.

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Neutral Newbie

Thanks for your very useful article on NS driving. I believe the recent spate of burglaries are due to the financial crunch. But I also noticed the burglars are now targetting Ferrrari owners or owners who flash their $1million dollar cars around Msia. Many would heavily recommend crucifying these burglars for robbing the middle class but if they target the ultra rich who flash their wealth, they could be viewed as the neighbourhood robin hood. Some lessons to learn: economic times are harsh, the poor and the middle class are squeezed badly financially, and here comes a convoy of ferraris and lambos driving pass with elbows hanging out of the windows glittering with rolexes and heavy bling. Those money spent on rolexes and bling could go a long way by way of donations to the needy and the less fortunate.

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Neutral Newbie

I have seen Singapore cars travelling at 110km/hr on the right side on NS highways. Pls give way to traffic if they are right behind you. Keep left.

Never overtake a vehicle on the left too.

At the end of the day, you must use your common sence to react and to think of others. Don't just because your are driving a fast car but only doing 110, pls give way to others that travel much faster than you. Don't because of "losing face" and you don't give way and surely you are asking for trouble...

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Generally no rentals will rent a car to Singaporean in Malaysia, at least that's what I encountered. So.. You still have to drive your own car or rent a car in SG. =)

 

You can stick to the right lane if there are no cars, but always keep a lookout on your rear view. If a car comes up to you flashing at you or turning on the right signal, signal left and give way, unless you intend to outrun it. If there are too many cars on the left and you are still generally faster than traffic on left, just keep left signal on to display intention on giving way. Slowly and steady, find your way to give way to the car behind.

 

If you are coming up to a car that is slower than you on the right, just keep your right signal on to indicate you wish for an overtake. If the driver did not notice you, flash your high beam once or twice. Most Malaysian drivers are courteous and will give way to you (i'm always stucked behind SG cars... =/ ).

 

Always try to give way to white coloured cars, especially Wiras. Most of the time they're police vehicles, they are not like Singapore police cars which have beacon/blinker lights on the roof, they only have a big Police logo at the side doors which you will not see from the front or back. Also, do not flash or attempt to overtake white cars as they might be police vehicles. This is their new tactic to summon you by blocking you at 110km/h, and after you overtake them they'll chase you and summon you (asking for money).

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I have seen Singapore cars travelling at 110km/hr on the right side on NS highways. Pls give way to traffic if they are right behind you. Keep left.

Never overtake a vehicle on the left too.

At the end of the day, you must use your common sence to react and to think of others. Don't just because your are driving a fast car but only doing 110, pls give way to others that travel much faster than you. Don't because of "losing face" and you don't give way and surely you are asking for trouble...

 

Yeap that's true. I always travel on NSH especially at night. Sometimes broken down or very slow lorries will travel on the left lane WITHOUT their lights on. There must be a reason why sometimes big lorries or slower vehicles cut out from left and to the right lane. If you attempt to overtake from the left, you will only end up waste metal on some tonner's bumper.

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Yeap that's true. I always travel on NSH especially at night. Sometimes broken down or very slow lorries will travel on the left lane WITHOUT their lights on. There must be a reason why sometimes big lorries or slower vehicles cut out from left and to the right lane. If you attempt to overtake from the left, you will only end up waste metal on some tonner's bumper.

Uu can use high-beam on NSH. Just rmb to switch it off when you enter Singapore (if you are coming back to Singapore from NSH, that is)

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Uu can use high-beam on NSH. Just rmb to switch it off when you enter Singapore (if you are coming back to Singapore from NSH, that is)

Yeap, but rmb to turn it off when you close up to vehicles. It irritates other drivers.

 

M'sia Lorries have fog lamps installed on their back, and if you irritate them, they will on their rear fog lamps on you and blind you badly. Very dangerous.

Edited by Gnayed
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