A lot has been said about road safety and accidents and poor road discipline in the country. In reality, emotional and knee-jerk reactions to these issues are not enough to cure this pain in the neck.

All the hue and cry will soon be forgotten until a few other major road tragedies occur. This, perhaps, is the Malaysian way of confronting issues.

Malaysian road users are generally not receptive to the importance of safe driving as compared to their counterparts in the developed countries.

In fact, good values in driving - patience, understanding and consideration - have not generally been instilled in us right from young unlike road users in most developed countries. Most kids in those countries are aware of the importance of abiding by rules and regulations with regard to driving and road safety, some even before they enter school.

Citizens who are taught to be aware of good driving manners would accordingly and naturally grow up to inherit good habits when they start using the road. When this is internalised in their psyche, it would naturally prick their conscience when they flout traffic rules when driving.

They would never allow themselves not to buckle up when driving. Children too, are made to buckle up and we do not see young children standing on the front or back seat in a moving vehicle.

Motorists would naturally give way to pedestrians and smaller vehicles knowing that the latter are at a disadvantage on the road. No heavy vehicles are allowed to ply the roads without their loads being fully and safely covered.

All vehicles are fixed with proper and functioning front, rear and signal lights. In most cases, these good habits are followed without much fuss by those who value them. It has become a way of life to these people.

Unfortunately, some of these good values have not trickled into the psyche of most of our road users. We are rather unmindful, uncaring and selfish when it comes to road use. We often see vehicles on the road without effective and functioning rear lights and some seldom use lights to signal their plans to overtake, change lanes or to take an exit.

Many do not mind driving vehicles that are not roadworthy. We observe them speeding and overtaking recklessly - a total disregard to other road users - as long as they can reach their destinations without much bother. To these irresponsible road users, the end will always justify the means.

Vehicles that are overloaded with passengers plying the roads are a common sight on our roads. Loads on heavy vehicles are seldom covered and a slight bump would be enough to see these loads strewn onto the road much to the danger of the vehicles behind.

In most instances, the rear tyres of heavy vehicles are not protected with mud or stone flaps a reason why many vehicles end up with broken windscreens caused by these stray objects. Why aren't the enforcement officers checking on these?

In fact, we grow up to ignore decisive traffic laws. To some, it's just ingrained in their psyche that to go against well-intended laws and regulations whenever there is an opportunity is a way of life - a thrill much cherished by them.

Then incessant enforcement becomes the rule of the game to apprehend these offenders a perennial concern among politicians, the relevant authorities and to society in general. With this also comes other problems such as conjuring up with all sorts of measures including prohibiting, banning and punishing people who are but already fossilised with bad habits.

Why not try educating the public handily at a young age? Unfortunately, this lacking in our social system.