While motorists aren’t always polite to each other on the road, everyone seems to be on the same page when it comes to the police department. Discover – or encounter – a police barricade and everyone becomes immediate friends, from providing high-beam warnings to oncoming traffic to putting the checkpoint’s location on Waze so others can choose an alternative route.
Now, police are telling motorists to stop sharing information about their presence and the location of roadblocks through Waze, as doing so could unintentionally help traffic offenders because Bernama reports.
According to Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim, such actions hamper enforcement efforts against drunk drivers and other traffic offenders. He said that while motorists might want to help other road users, they should also be aware of the dangers they face due to the negligence of drunk drivers, or those running red lights and driving in the wrong direction.
“Those who have never been affected by the misfortunes caused by the carelessness and negligence of traffic offenders will not be able to feel the pain and suffering that the families of the victims must endure. This is why I hope that the public, especially road users, will Work with the police instead of trying to help those committing road violations,” he said.
What do you think of the practice of warning other road users of the presence of police at specific locations? Helpful or harmful like the police suggest? Share your thoughts in the comments section.