KUCHING: Common roadside phrases like “my tyre no flower” and “brake no eat” may draw laughs, but they reflect a serious lack of awareness around vehicle safety, one that should be addressed from a young age.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said these colloquial expressions, often given as excuses after road accidents, stress the critical need for early education on road safety and vehicle maintenance.
“These aren’t just jokes — they’re real issues caused by negligence,” he told reporters when met at the Sarawak Traffic Games 2025 held at Kenyalang Traffic Garden here today (June 21).
To combat this, the revived Traffic Games, a once-annual event that uses simulation-based learning to teach children traffic rules and responsible road behaviour.
The programme, which had been dormant for over a decade, is now back in full swing, with editions held in Miri, Sarikei, and now Kuching.
The 2025 edition, hosted at a dedicated traffic park, gives students a chance to roleplay as drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists in a mock road setting, complete with real traffic signs, working traffic lights, and police officers issuing simulated summonses for violations.
“This is not just a game, it’s a simulation of real road conditions. Students who were ‘fined’ by police during the simulation even cried. That’s how powerful the impact can be,” Lee said.
According to studies cited by Lee, more than 80 per cent of road accidents are caused by human error from recklessness to simple ignorance of traffic laws.
By starting education at the primary school level, he said the ministry hopes to instill long-lasting habits that carry into adulthood.
Lee recalled feedback from adults who participated in the games decades ago and still remember the traffic rules they learned, even the exact violations they were penalised for.
“These memories stay with them for life, and many say it made them safer drivers,” he said.
Currently, six traffic parks exist in Sarawak, and Lee’s ministry has allocated funds to refurbish and upgrade them.
Under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), he hopes to build at least one traffic park in every division across the state.
“Every school should have access to this programme. We want to embed a culture of safety, responsibility, and awareness from the ground up,” he added.
