City Driver’s Weblog

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mentioned that the 15 sen price cut would be effective on Saturday, 1st Nov 2008. The price of diesel was also cut by 15 sen to 2.05 ringgit a litre.  The Government last cut fuel prices by 15 sen was 2 weeks ago.

This time is the fourth fuel price cut by the government since this year- June’s steep price hike of 41%  which sparked angry street protests and calls for the Prime Minister to resign. Back in June, the price of diesel was also raised by 63% .

Of current, the PM mentioned prices would be reviewed periodically based on the cost of oil.

In June, other than fuel price hike, we also saw inflation rate rises. In August - the inflation price index reaching a 26-year high of 8.5%, due to the escalating cost of food and transportation.  But, in Sept, inflation eased to 8.2% as fuel prices dropped.

Travelling through North and South highway, one will see a signboards. There are typical words used too on our road signs.

• Awas: Caution
• Berhenti: Stop
• Beri Laluan: Give Way
• Cerun Mendaki: Dangerous Ascent
• Di hadapan: Ahead
• Dilarang Belok Ke Kiri: No Left Turn
• Dilarang Memotong: No Overtaking
• Had Laju: Speed Limit
• Ikut Kanan: Keep Right
• Ikut Kiri: Keep Left
• Jalan: Road/Street
• Jalan Sehala: One Way Street
• Liku Tajam: Sharp Bends
• Kenderaan Dilarang Masuk: No Entry For Vehicles
• Keluar: Exit
• Kurangkan laju: Slow Down
• Lebuhraya: Highway
• Lencongan: Detour
• Lorong: Lane
• Masuk: Entry
• Pusat Bandaraya: City Centre
• Utara: North
• Selatan: South
• Timur: East
• Barat: West

(Source: ExpatKL.com)

Subject: Penang Bridge New Rules

Starting August 15, 2008 – Heavy vehicles are not allowed to pass through Penang bridge between the time: 6.30AM – 8:30AM and 5:00PM – 7:00PM.

Subject: TOUCH ‘n GO CARD (1998 expired 2008)

FYI

Useful information.

Hello and a good day to you, 
Please be informed that each Touch ‘n Go card has a lifespan of 10 years from the issuance date. In your case, the card was bought in September 1998 and will expire soon. To avoid untoward incident, we advise you to replace the card at any Touch ‘n Go Sales and Reload Counters before August 2008 and it is free of charge. Please bring the card to the following counters :  

1) PLUS EXPRESSWAY  ·  Kedah : Alor Setar (U), Sg Petani (S)  · P.Pinang :  Jawi, Juru, Sg Dua, Penang Bridge Sdn. Bhd. · Perak : Bidor, Bkt Tambun (S), Ipoh (S), Jelapang, Taiping (U)  · Selangor : Kajang, OBR Sg Buloh, Batu Tiga, Sg Besi, Sg Rasau, Subang, USJ, Seafield, KLIA  · Kuala Lumpur amansara, Jln Duta, Kota Damansara · N.Sembilan : Bdr Baru Nilai, Senawang  · Melaka : Ayer Keroh, OBR Ayer Keroh  · Johor : Ayer Hitam, Kempas, Skudai, Yong Peng (U), Lima Kedai, Tmn Perling, Tg Kupang 7.30 am to 7.30 pm, Mondays to Sundays (including Public Holidays).

2) RSSB POS : Head Office – Faber Towers Taman Desa KL 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Mondays to Fridays 8.30 am to 1.00 pm Saturdays
 
3) KL SENTRAL HUB :  10.00 am to 8.00 pm Mondays to Fridays, 10.00 am to 3.00 pm Saturdays.
We hope we have addressed your concern adequately and thank you for you support.  
 
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact our Touch ‘n Go Careline Centre at 03-7628 5115 ( 7.30am to 7.30pm : Monday to Sunday). We will be glad to assist you.
 
Kind Regards,
SHAHRIZAN MD. PADZIL
Executive – Touch ‘n Go Customer Response Centre

Subject: Getting into Parked Car

Open the windows after you enter your car

In brief, the above article says:  According to research done by a U.C., the car dashboard, sofa, air freshener will emit Benzene, a cancer causing toxin (carcinogen).  In addition to causing cancer, it poisons your bones,  causes anemia, and reduces white blood cells.  Prolonged exposure will cause Leukemia, increasing the risk of cancer.  May also cause miscarriage.

Acceptable Benezene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. ft.  A car parked indoors with the windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benezene.  If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benezene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level.  The people inside the car will inevitably inhale an excess amount of the toxin.  

It is recommended that you open the windows and door to give time for the interior to air out before you enter.  Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidney and liver, and is difficult for your body to expel.

Subject: Save Lives

Dear TV3 and The Star,
 
I am a frequent user of our North-South Expressway and I have this IMPORTANT experience to highlight and share:-
 
I was driving back to Penang yesterday afternoon (24 June 08) when I saw the unfortunate accident in the opposite direction involving the passenger bus that skidded and overturned at Tanjung Malim. I didn’t know that the skidded bus was from hometown Penang untill I watched TV3 news later in the evening and was shocked to learn that the accident took two lives.
 
Now, this is what I need to share:-
 
I am a building contractor with over twenty years of experience and I have been driving my 5 series BMW (latest generation and a dammed solid road holding car) each time
I travelled to KL. Lately, the new extended 3 lanes highway had been opened up for use and since then, I have also been using it quite oftenly.
 
HOWEVER, when I used it each time it is WET, I can really ‘feel’ that the new road surface is extremely SLIPPERY!  To share with some of you, my car comes with a built-in traction control mechanism (skidding prevention mechanism) and you can feel it each time it is activated. Previously, I don’t come across this kind of slippery feel except when I drive over a paddle of water at certain speed.
 
From my observation as a building contractor, the ‘wearing course’ of the new road surface could be TOO FINE OR TOO SMOOTH and TOTALLY UNSUITABLE for highway use!
The wearing course (top premix layer) mix design for highways should be of minimum 20mm coarse aggregate mix that will give us the required bond between the surface and our tyres. Fine wearing course (14mm coarse aggregate size and below) is only suitable for normal road. (A proper test need to be carried out to determine the mix design of the wearing course).
 
Since the opening of the three lanes highway, I had seen cars skidding in front me or in the opposite direction and approximately 2 weeks ago, one of my friends who is also a frequent user of our NSE, came to share with me about his slippery feeling as well as the many skidded cars he had seen lately.
 
I am highlighting this to TV3 and The Star with the hope that a thourough investigation could be carried out immediately to find out how or what causes the bus to skid. A proper and independent test need to be carried out urgently to determine the design mix of the wearing course. THIS CAN SAVE LIVES.
 
FOR THOSE BCC RECIPIENTS, PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ALL YOUR FRIENDS.
IF YOU ARE USING THE NEW LANES AND IF IT IS WET, MAKE SURE YOU DRIVE SLOWLY!!!!
 
Regards,
 
Jensen Yeoh
012-4826163
Penang.

Subject: How to achieve good vision during heavy downpour, while you are driving.

We are not sure how effective it is, just try this method when it rains heavily. This method was told by a Police friend who had experienced and confirmed it…. it is useful…even driving at night.

Most of the motorists would turn on HIGH or FASTEST SPEED of the wipers during heavy downpour, yet the visibiilty in front of the windscreen is still bad…..

Thus, in the event you face such situation, just try your SUN GLASSES ( any model will do), and miracle…………….
All of a sudden, your visibility in front of your windscreen are perfectly clear, as if there is no rain……………..
Try it yourself and share it with your friends…………..
Make sure you have a pair of SUN GLASSES in your car, you are not only helping yourself to drive safely with good vision, but also you might save your friend’s life when driving in the rain…………….
So? 
Please tell all your friends!