News that made headlines
ONE of the greatest satisfactions of being a freelancer journalist is the ability to help others. I still vividly remember news covered by a reporter (BB reporter) on the accident that killed a young lady occurred on 29 October 2006 (Sunday). I didn’t witness the actual fatal accident but my postings to the media (BB and MP) after the accident giving relevant authorities a wake up call to buckle up before another fatality strikes.
The relevant authority was quick to put some remedial works on the prone-accident stretch of the highway linking Tutong-Jerudong. Here are flash backs of headlines that are appeared in BB and MP. Of course, my sentences are not 100% published, it is the work of the editors to edit, proof read and make neccessary amendments to make the news more sharper (mine is a bit elaborate). It goes the same to other postings such as articles. I usually post articles one week in advanced to give ample for editors to comprehend and henceforth edit for publication.
For news coverage, if I send them today, it is not neccessarily they come out on the next day. But it always do: it all depends on spaces available. If the postings are too long in sentences or too many pictures, it may appears on the following day or if doesn't come out after two days, sometimes I call them to ascertain why they are not published.
There are instances where they don't come out at all. Possibly, the news are not suitable for publication and this is one of the challenges freelancers have to swallow and abide to their decisions. In other words, not all postings are published! (No publication, no pay...what to do)
Here are the reports:
Bad road patches may lead to accidents(BB -28/10/06) - reported 2 days before the fatal accident
ROAD users commuting along Tutong-Jerudong highway may be getting used to witness vehicle mishaps in several accident-prone areas connecting the two districts. Accidents do happen when motorists ignore safety procedures on the road, driving at breakneck speed, overtaking carelessly, making illegal U-turn and other hazardous attempts. Patchy road surfaces and water clogged up during or after rains are other factors contributing to accidents.
The high occurrence of frequent-hit areas may be pointed to the condition of the road as those stretches of road lag maintenance at regular intervals. Prompt actions to resurface the maligned patches by relevant parties are commendable as one of the solutions to decrease road accidents.
Misfortunes also occur at congested intersections as misjudgment proves decisive. Closing down certain intersections that pose a threat is an option to reduce the frequency of accidents and seek more favorable alternative routes.
However, any initiatives taken by concerned agencies bear fruitless unless all parties giving safety on top of their lists and making full advantage the road facilities provided.
Certain Intersection needs revamps to prevent frequent accidents
Jalan rosak undang bahaya kemalangan (MP - 28/10/06) - disiarkan 2 hari sebelum kemalangan maut berlaku
Para pengguna jalan raya yang berulang alik menggunakan lebuhraya diantara Tutong dan Brunei Muara mungkin sudah biasa melihat kejadian-kejadian kemalangan jalanraya yang sering berlaku di beberapa buah kawasan yang menghubungkan kedua daerah itu.
Kemalangan boleh saja berlaku seperti memandu melampaui had laju, memotong tanpa memberi isyarat yang mencukupi, berpusing bukan ditempat yang dibenarkan, tidak mematuhi tanda-tanda jalan, berlumba-lumba dan sebagainya. Punca lain ialah permukaan jalan yang tidak seimbang, bertingkat, berlobang dan air bertakung semasa atau selepas hujan.
Tindakan pihak berwajib menurap semula permukaan jalan yang rosak adalah dihargai dan merupakan sebagai satu usaha bagi mengurangkan bilangan kemalangan jalanraya yang telah banyak mengakibatkan kecederaan anggota tubuh badan, kemusnahan harta benda dan kehilangan jiwa.
Kekerapan kemalangan disatu-satu kawasan lebuhraya juga membawa petanda bahawa kawasan berkenaan perlu kepada pembaikan atau pengubasuaian. Kedudukan simpang jalan yang agak mengelirukan, kurang sesuai dan boleh mengundang bahaya perlu diberi perhatian wajar seperti menutup terus kawasan yang dianggap merbahaya itu dan mencari jalan alternatif yang lebih selesa dan terbaik.
Bagaimanapun, apapun langkah yang sedang dan akan dilaksanakan oleh pihak-pihak tertentu, tidak akan memberi makna jika kita selaku pengguna tidak mengutamakan aspek-aspek keselamatan bila berada dijalanraya dan memanfaatkan kemudahan-kemudahan yang disediakan sepenuhnya.
Setup signboards to caution drivers (BB-31/10/06)
The tragedy of human loss due to road accidents in the sultanate is a combination of human negligence, awful road conditions and weather. The horrific fatality scene splashed in BB on 30/10/06 invokes one of many painful memories occurred several months ago when an elderly man succumbed to his injuries when the vehicle he was driving in collided with another car causing it to flip over and landed on its side just a few meters away from the recent fatal accident (29/10/2006).
The latest happening is a near fatal blow to concerted efforts undertaken by relevant authorities to address the menace drastically and even they have done so, the threat remains intact. The recent incident may prompted a flurry of questions being raised by frequent commuters and individuals to what follow up actions must be taken by respective agencies to bring down the grim-looking fatalities figures on Brunei road.
Weather condition cannot be blamed for all the mishaps irrespective of the circumstances but slippery roads are the contributing factors leading up to an accident if road users are not vigilant at all time. Some quarters of public urge concerned parties to take remedial actions such as setting up signboards warning road users to reduce their speed when approaching accidents-prone areas, increase inspection and maintenance schedules and rectify patchy, bumpy and neglected parts of road surfaces frequently.
Flashback - a fatal accident at a similar stretch that killed an old man in July 2006
Repairs works at killer bent underway (BB - 2/11/06)
Repair works are underway at Muara-Tutong highway close to a site where a young woman dies at a horrific accident recently. According to one of the workers at the location told bulletin the broken barriers will be replaced and extended as far as the U-turn point of entry upfront as added safety measures to reduce serious accidents in this frequent-hit accidents area.
The move is timely but more repair works are needed with other potentially dangerous stretches and bends to minimize the frequency of road mishap in the future. Road users are therefore advised to heed safety warnings and signs while works are being carried out.
In Sunday’s accident (29/10/2006), a woman passenger was killed when a car he was traveling in smash into a central safety barrier when the driver was reportedly lost control of his vehicle and rammed into the safety divider.
The car eventually landed on its side and an exposed metal barrier may have caused it to pierce through the car. They were thought to be heading towards Tutong from Bandar Seri Begawan. Road users have expressed uneasiness and their grievances are highlighted in the media recently on possible loose safety measures which inadvertently invites unexpected consequences.
Repairs works being carried out
Papantanda ‘kawasan kemalangan’ wajar dipasang (MP - 31/10/06)
Tragedi yang meragut nyawa penumpang kereta baru-baru ini adalah merupakan nahas terbaru yang terjadi di kawasan yang dianggap ‘berhantu’ kerana kekerapan kejadian kemalangan yang banyak mengakibatkan kebinasaan harta benda dan kehilangan jiwa. Apa yang menyedihkan peristiwa ini berlaku disaat kita semua bergembira menyambut hari mulia Aidil Fitri. Persoalannya, sanggupkah kita jadi penonton keatas kesengaraan orang lain tanpa mengambil langkah atau tindakan yang wajar untuk membendungnya?
Tidak dinafikan, kemalangan jalanraya banyak berpunca daripada kecuaian para pengguna itu sendiri namun faktor-faktor lain turut menyumbang kepada kadar meningkatnya kemalangan jalanraya. Kawasan lebuhraya yang bermula dari pusingan U hingga simpang padang tembak Bukit Aguk, telah menyaksikan peningkatan jumlah nahas jalanraya di tahun-tahun kebelakangan ini. Begitu juga kawasan berdekatan simpang keluar masuk Kg Bukit Panggal hingga ke pusingan U dan juga simpang masuk Binturan Camp.
Mengikut pengamatan para pengguna yang sering berulang alik dari Tutong ke Bandar Seri Begawan dan sebaliknya, mereka sependapat bahawa antara punca terjadinya kemalangan selain dari ‘human factor’ ialah kedudukan simpang jalan yang agak mengelirukan dan singkat serta keadaan permukaan jalan yang tidak seimbang, bertingkat dan licin.
Menurut mereka lagi kemalangan yang sering terjadi tidak bergantung kepada fakta cuaca semata-mata kerana kejadian kemalangan boleh saja terjadi dalam keadaan apa sekali pun. Namun, kebarangkalian terperangkap dalam kemalangan adalah tinggi ketika atau selepas hujan jika kurang waspada.
Mereka mencadangkan supaya simpang-simpang jalan yang ada pada ini dikaji semula kesesuaiannya, pemeliharaan jalanraya dipertingkatkan dan tanda-tanda amaran ‘kawasan kemalangan’ didirikan disepanjang kawasan lebuhraya yang dikenalpasti sebagai peringatan bersama agar pengguna lebih berhati-hati ketika melintasi kawasan-kawasan yang dimaksudkan.
tinggal kenangan… pemandu kereta ini maut selepas kenderaan yang dipandunya berlanggar dan terbalik beberapa bulan lalu dikawasan yang sama (Pusingan U sebelum Bukit Aguk)
Besi penghadang jalan diganti dan ditambah
Kerja-kerja mengganti besi pengadang jalan dilorong tengah yang rosak akibat dirempuh kereta dalam satu kemalangan ngeri Ahad lepas di lebuhraya Muara-Tutong sedang giat dijalankan.
Menurut salah seorang pekerja yang ditemui ditempat dimana kerja-kerja sedang berjalan memberitahu pihak media bahawa selain mengganti besi yang rosak, bilangannya juga ditambah dan dilaratkan hingga ke pusingan U sebagai langkah-langkah keselamatan untuk mengurangkan kadar kemalangan yang serius.
Tindakan pihak berwajib ini adalah dialu-alukan dan semoga usaha pembaikan, pengubahsuaian dan penambahan yang bersesuaian akan terus dibuat dimana-mana kawasan lain yang difikirkan perlu dan mungkin menjadi punca kemalangan jalanraya.
Orang ramai adalah dinasihatkan untuk memandu lebih berhati-hati ketika melalui kawasan tersebut dan sentiasa mematuhi tanda-tanda arahan semasa kerja-kerja sedang berjalan.
Dalam kejadian petang Ahad itu, seorang wanita terkorban apabila kereta yang dipandu oleh seorang lelaki dilaporkan hilang kawalan lalu merempuh besi pengadang jalan di pusingan U berdekatan dengan Bukit Aguk. Kedua-dua mangsa dikatakan sedang dalam perjalanan dari Bandar Seri Begawan menuju Tutong ketika nahas berlaku.
Kawasan ini kerap berlaku kemalangan dan beberapa rungutan para pengguna telah dipaparkan didada akhbar tempatan baru-baru ini yang mempersoalkan kelemahan aspek-aspek keselamatan yang mungkin menjadi penyebab utama sering terjadinya kemalangan dikawasan berkenaan.
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