There are many great things about Malaysia and the people in it. We are multicultural, we can get along well despite our differences, we have amazing food, and we all share the same love for our local cuisines.
HOWEVER, there’s also another thing we all have in common, which is how the majority of the population has some pretty shitty driving skills.
Here’s a list of some of the most sohai ridiculous things Malaysians do on the road way too often that are obviously WRONG and sometimes against the law.
1. Never signal!
The number one most frustrating thing is how the whole country seems to forget about the existence of the turn signal. It’s invented for a reason! It’s as if other road users are supposed to read people’s minds and just to know where they plan to go.
Are they turning left? Are they turning right?? Are they just going straight??? Well, we will only find out after they’ve passed us.
2. Staying on the right lane at roundabouts when taking the first exit
If you’re going to take the first exit, you should be on the most left lane at the roundabout, duh! It’s obviously dangerous to cut 2 or 3 lanes at a roundabout as there are many blind spots around one.
3. Stopping before merging into traffic
When merging into major roads, especially highways, we should always pick up speed. Yes, we should look out for cars but we shouldn’t come to a complete stop either.
A stagnant vehicle picking up speed is much slower than a car that already has momentum. If you’re too slow when merging into a major road, cars could potentially rear-end your vehicle!
4. Not giving way to vehicles merging
This one’s another group of idiots. When you’re on the most left lane and there’s traffic merging into your lane, by right you should slow down to give them way to merge into your lane.
5. Not checking blind spots
They’re called blind spots for a reason. They are basically the left and right sides of your car which you can’t see through your side mirrors.
You have to physically turn your head and look out for any motorists. Many accidents that happen when switching lanes are caused by not checking the blind spots.
6. Not turning on the headlights in parking lots, and on rainy or hazy days
Turning on your headlights isn’t just meant for your own vision but also other people’s vision of your vehicle. Just because you can see out of your car, it doesn’t always mean others can see you.
So turn your goddamn headlamps on before someone knocks into you lah.
7. Turning on the hazard lights while parking, or on rainy or hazy days
Yo, we’re not in Singapore. We only turn on the hazard lights when our vehicles are stalled or we are making an emergency stop.
So, if your hazard lights are turned on in a non-emergency situation, you’re totally doing it wrong. Now, stop pressing the red button for unnecessary reasons.
8. Cutting cars from the left lane
It is dangerous! Stop cutting cars from the left because the left lanes are the slow lanes.
Yes, it is frustrating when we want to go fast but the cars in front of us just won’t hurry up already, but that doesn’t mean we should do something dangerous such as cutting in from the left lane.
9. Speeding up when the traffic light is amber
Another particularly sohai ridiculous thing which Malaysians often do is stepping on the accelerator when the green light starts blinking or when it turns yellow. Admit it, you do it too!
But the worst part isn’t how dangerous speeding like that is. It is when the light suddenly turns red and these people jam on their breaks.
10. Stopping at a zebra crossing
source: the star
It gets worse too when people jam break at traffic lights and then stop past the white line, and on the zebra crossing.
Because of this, pedestrians can’t cross to the other side because your car is blocking their way. Way to go, smart ass.
11. Driving along chevron lines
source: western line marking
You know those lines that are usually white or yellow? Yeah, you’re not supposed to drive on that.
The lines are basically road dividers you will see near exits or road forks. Driving on the line, or cutting into another lane by (mis)using that line is actually illegal.
12. Following emergency vehicles closely
source: cilisos
Some people like to go super fast but it is illegal to overtake emergency vehicles. So, the next best thing is to follow them closely from behind since they are also paving the way for you when you do so.
However, following them too closely is also extremely dangerous and can increase the risk of getting into an accident.
13. Driving on the emergency lane
@#$%^&*@#$%^&*!!!!!!
14. Lane splitting
source: wob
Lane splitting is basically driving on two lanes at once. If it’s not obvious enough, it is completely wrong to do this yet many Malaysians still consciously do it! Cannot make up your mind is it?
15. Tailgating
Yes, you wanna go fast, but you don’t have to kiss someone’s ass. Be a bit more patient, lah.
16. Slowing down to check out an accident
Ya’ll who slow down just to check the number plates of cars in an accident or just to see what happened, are next level assholes.
As if three lanes squeezing into one or two lanes isn’t bad enough, you nosy makcik pakcik all still want to slow down and cause the traffic jam to build up. Don’t contribute to the congestion, pretty please?
So, now that you know exactly what you’ve been doing wrong on the road all this while, please school yourself a little on the road rules here and be a more considerate road user, ok. It’s for the safety of everyone!
Now go and tag your friends who are terrible drivers and spread the message.
Also read: 8 Reasons Malaysians are Actually the Smartest People in the World
