Pedestrians walking on the roadside can still become victims, just like the tragic accident at Jalan Sultan Ismail on Wednesday.
An empty Immigration Department Black Maria, with beacon lights and siren activated to signal enforcement, allegedly beat a red light and collided with an oncoming car.
After losing control, the Black Maria crashed into a family of four. A father and two daughters were killed while the mother is fighting for her life.
Let it be reaffirmed here that in emergencies, police patrol cars, fire engines, ambulances and official government vehicles operating with lights and sirens can run red lights.
However, drivers are bound by a duty of care; they face civil or criminal liability if they are proven to have driven recklessly or failed to exercise due caution.
The Immigration Department has launched an inquiry into standard operating procedures (SOPs) and speed limits during operations.
Malaysian motorists have long accepted the right of way of these vehicles, though some resist by deliberately obstructing their path. In one bizarre case years ago, a driver even forced an ambulance on sirens to pull over.
That offender was duly penalised. In any case, sirens are not shields for immunity.
Ambulance drivers running a red light must still ensure that they have a clear line of sight to avoid endangering road users.
Drivers can be sued for negligence under civil law, but if they have caused serious injury or death, they can be charged under the Road Transport Act for reckless driving.
Government vehicles are insured, but to determine fault, investigations must examine dashcam or closed circuit television camera (CCTV) footage at intersections. The tragedy does remind drivers of enforcement and emergency vehicles that they share an equal responsibility to protect road users.
What then are the safeguards? High-speed driving must be matched by discipline — governed by clear protocols on speeding, negotiating busy junctions, maintaining visibility and assessing surrounding traffic.
The Immigration Department inquiry must produce tangible changes beyond a simple review. The outcome should include driver refresher training, stricter operational protocols, dashcams or CCTV and vehicle tracking, and clearer rules to navigate junctions during urgent deployments.
Drivers must be properly trained to negotiate heavy traffic, especially at city junctions and blind intersections with or without traffic lights.
Ultimately, the SOPs must work in real situations, not just on paper. - NST