Monday 11 November 2013

The Genting Bus Crash Report is out & YES the road barriers were improper safety barrier for sloped road

The long awaited report on the Genting Highland Bus tragedy on 21 August 2013 is finally out announced by acting MOT Minister on 9 November 2013:


As announced by the Minister, MIROS identified a number of main points:

1. The ill fated bus was driven exceeding the speed limit;
2. The ill fated Bus brake had brake problems;
3. Concealed location of truck escape ramp;
4. The wideness of  the road width contributed to the accident;
5. The rubble wall and guard rail were improper safety barrier for slope route(road);
6. The lack of implementation of Safety, Health and Environment Codes by the Bus company.

The news report can be read here:


KUALA LUMPUR: The bus involved in the deadly Genting Highlands crash that took 37 lives in August was travelling beyond the stipulated speed limit with inefficient brakes at its front wheels and a retarder that failed to slow it down.

These were among the findings made by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) of the Aug 21 tragedy, which happened after a Genting Highlands Transport Sdn Bhd bus that was carrying 53 passengers plunged 60m down a ravine near the hill resort.

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, giving reasons for the crash, also warned of possible action against the company and its officials to ensure regulations and laws are complied with.

This includes the possible closure of the bus company.

Hishammuddin said the findings also showed a truck escape ramp was shielded by the road’s geometrical design and that the signage for the ramp was inaccurate.

He said another reason was that the lane, measuring 4.2 to 4.9m, was too wide and beyond the 3.25m standard, allowing drivers to go faster.

The Miros findings also considered the rubble wall and guardrails along the road as improper safety barriers for slope routes and Genting Highlands Transport Sdn Bhd, the operator in charge of the bus, was deemed to have unsatisfactory company policies.

The Land Public Transport Com­mission (SPAD) will take the necessary action against the operator, Hishammuddin said at a press conference at the Defence Ministry, which he heads, yesterday.

“I’ve asked them to look into the possibility of taking action not only against the company but also against individuals, such as directors or those responsible in the company, to make sure that all guarantees regarding regulations and laws are complied with,” he said, adding that this included a possible shutdown of Genting Highlands Transport Sdn Bhd.

Hishammuddin added that if the operator was shut down, the Genting Highlands resort needed to provide alternative transport services for those travelling to and from the resort.

He also said the Transport Ministry would recommend to the Cabinet amendments to the law by the end of the year if action against the operator was deemed not enough.

I blogged about the inadequate barriers made of rubble wall a couple of months back: 


and I am pleased  that MIROS also considered the rubble wall and guardrails as improper safety barrier for slope routes.  

I hope action will be done according to the report for all roads in Malaysia so that this needless tragedy shall never ever recur.

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