A road safety expert has urged motorists to put safety first when giving way to VIP convoys, saying drivers should never feel pressured into making dangerous lane changes that could lead to serious accidents.
The advice comes after a recent viral social media post by a Malaysian mother, who claimed she was repeatedly pressured by a police escort to move aside for a VIP convoy on the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2), despite there being no safe space to do so.
Safety should always come first
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said motorists should remain calm and only change lanes when it is safe.
“If there is no clear gap, drivers should stay in their lane, slow down if necessary and wait until it is safe to move over,” he said.
He stressed that road users should prioritise safety over reacting immediately to approaching VIP convoys.
Sudden lane changes can lead to serious accidents
According to Law, making sudden manoeuvres such as changing lanes abruptly, braking sharply or swerving under pressure could trigger side-swipe crashes, rear-end collisions or even chain-reaction accidents.
He added that the risk is even higher on busy urban highways like the MRR2, where heavy traffic leaves motorists with little room to maneuver. Drivers who panic may also fail to check their blind spots, putting nearby vehicles and motorcyclists at greater risk.
Escort officers also play an important role
Law acknowledged that police escort officers have an important responsibility in ensuring VIPs travel safely.
However, he said traffic should be managed in a way that allows motorists to give way safely, rather than forcing them into potentially dangerous situations.
“The role of escort officers is important, but creating safe conditions for drivers should always come first,” he said.
VIP convoys should minimise disruption
Law also said Malaysia’s VIP convoy system serves a legitimate security purpose, but there is still room to better balance security needs with the safety of ordinary road users.
He noted that in many countries, the size of a VIP convoy depends on the individual’s actual security risk, with larger escorts typically reserved for heads of state, government leaders and visiting foreign dignitaries.
He added that international practices generally focus on coordinating traffic, managing intersections and creating safe openings in traffic flow instead of forcing motorists to make sudden lane changes.
Viral MRR2 incident sparked debate
The discussion follows a viral Threads post by a Malaysian mother who claimed she encountered a police escort while driving with her children on the MRR2.
She alleged the escort repeatedly signalled for her to change lanes even though a lorry was travelling beside her, leaving her with no safe space to move.
According to her post, she only changed lanes once it was safe to do so. She also claimed the escort officer later drove alongside her car and pointed a finger at her.
The post has since attracted thousands of reactions, with many users sharing similar experiences involving VIP convoys. Some claimed they had been pressured onto the emergency lane, while another alleged an escort officer kicked their vehicle’s side mirror while directing traffic.
However, these claims have not been independently verified, and police have not issued an official response regarding the allegations.
Follow Wah Piang for more.
