They should obey the speed limit, be careful when overtaking, signal before changing lanes, not jump queues, be considerate and keep their cool, to name a few.
Its director-general Datuk Dr Tam Weng Wah also advised road users to always take a proactive approach, to ensure safe and smooth travel during the festive season.
He said they should plan their journeys, especially those making long trips.
Dr Tam
“Do not wait till the last minute. Early planning will enable them to make sure that their vehicles are in the best condition, especially the brakes and tyres,” he said.
Road users should always stick to the speed limit and should slow down when the weather turns bad.
“No one should be going fast on a rainy day even if the speed limit is 110kph,” he said.
Dr Tam also reminded road users to be extra careful when overtaking and not to do so when approaching curves.
When changing lanes, he said, motorists should first check the view in the respective side mirror and then signal with the indicator before moving to the next lane.
Dr Tam also advised motorists not to tailgate or to run a red light.
“If you reach the spot where the vehicle in front of you was in less than two seconds, you are following too close to it,” he said.
Jumping queues, weaving in and out of traffic, and being reluctant to give way to other vehicles could also cause an accident, he warned.
He said heavy vehicles, lorry trailers and express buses should always give way to the smaller vehicles.
“Be considerate drivers,” he said.
Apart from that, the department also urged road users to always buckle up their safety belts when on the move and to not use their mobile phones while driving.
Its road safety campaign was aimed at spreading caution in the community through advice and was an effective method aside from law enforcement, it said.
Its message is that even minor accidents can bring hurt to the victims, their family and friends, as well as society.
Dr Tam expects the highways to be busy with increased traffic from Feb 14 to 22, adding that heavy vehicles will be banned from using them on Feb 17 and 18.
Chinese New Year falls on Feb 19 and 20.
