By Aida Aziz
Photo: Balqis Jazimah Zahari
IPOH: The pedestrian crossing or zebra crossing near the main entrance of UniKL Royal College of Medicine Perak is reportedly no longer effective, as many drivers are still said to ignore it and fail to slow down their vehicles.
This poses a significant risk to pedestrians, especially university students who are trying to cross the road to get to campus or return to their rented rooms nearby.
This issue has recently been raised by Ipoh residents, including university lecturers and students, to Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic.
Additionally, the bend in the road near the Federal Building in the area often causes drivers to fail to slow down as they approach the crossing.
A retiree, Hisyam Yong, claimed that many people still do not understand the meaning of the markings at the crossing—white lines mean that vehicles must stop when someone is crossing, while yellow lines indicate that if a pedestrian arrives first, drivers must stop, and vice versa.
“It seems most drivers are not aware of or don’t follow the rules. Sometimes, cars just don’t stop when pedestrians want to cross using the zebra crossing on both sides of the road.
“There were even times when drivers yelled at me and used foul language when I tried to cross. I hope the authorities will take action—we shouldn’t have to wait for someone to die before something is done.
“I really hope the authorities install a pedestrian traffic light or at least place clearer and larger warning signs here,” he said.
UniKL lecturer Associate Professor Dr. Nour Hanah Othman also said the issue has been ongoing for a long time, especially with the growing number of students in the area.
“Previously, UniKL had submitted a request to the Ipoh City Council (MBI) to create the crossing to help students and lecturers safely walk to the new campus building across the street.
“But unfortunately, it seems that people in Ipoh may not understand what the crossing means. When someone wants to cross, drivers act like they don’t need to stop and just keep going.
“It’s very dangerous, and the crossing feels completely useless. The road is especially busy during noon and evening hours.
“We strongly urge for large warning signs to make drivers slow down or, better yet, install a pedestrian traffic light,” she said.
UniKL student Nur Iman Cinta Mokhtazul Haizad also expressed hope that the authorities would do something for the safety of Ipoh residents in general.
Another student, Eisyah Adani Elias, said many drivers still do not stop at the crossing.
“Sometimes we feel anxious crossing during peak hours because some drivers just keep going. There should be clearer stop signs for the public, and ideally a pedestrian traffic light. That would be the best solution for safety,” she said.
Final-year UniKL student Dhia Ali Fudail, who is about to begin her internship, said she has been dealing with the issue for a long time.
“As students here, we often have to wait a long time to cross, especially when traffic is heavy. It’s quite dangerous because of the bend in the road, and some drivers speed through. I really hope the authorities will improve the situation here,” she said.
