Event Updates


OCTOBER 2008

Majlis Penyampaian Amanat Ketua Pengarah & Sambutan Aidilfitri 1429
24 October 2008, MIROS

This represented the first formal meeting between Professor Ahmad Farhan and the staff of MIROS. This was followed by a Majlis Ramah Mesra Syawal 1429 organized by Kelab MIROS.

Themed “How Do We Make Our Roads Safe” , the Workshop was co-organized by the Road Engineering Association of Malaysia (REAM), Ministry of Works (JKR), MIROS, the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and JKJR. The speakers included international and local experts in the field of road safety design, operations and law enforcement.

The Chair for the Technical Committee C.2 (TC C.2) Safer Road Operations of PIARC is held by Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan. By way of explanation, TC C.2 is under the Strategic Theme of Safety of the Road System while TC C.1 is the committee for Safer Road Infrastructure and is also under the same strategic theme. The two committees had their common and separate meetings over two days with a workshop in between.

The inaugural iRAP Asia Pacific Workshop was held for the direct steering committee members of the RAP programs and was designed as an interactive forum where committee members share key background details on RAP programs such as models, software and systems. Experience from the established RAP programs of Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand were shared and the need for new programs was also discussed.

The two-day seminar was organized as workshops in three main areas: good practice in road safety, iRAP in Asia, and data management. The seminar was attended by delegates from the region and as well as GRSP global stakeholders.

DG’s Visit to the French National Institute for Transport and Safety Research (INRETS)
26 September 2008, INRETS, Arcueil, France

On his visit to INRETS, Professor Ahmad Farhan was met by Stéphane Espié, Research Head of the Modelling, Simulations and Driving Simulators Unit (MSIS) and Nicole Muhlrad, Research Head of the Epidemiological Research and Surveillance Unit in Transport Occupation and Environment Unit (UMRESTTE). As several of the research units at INRETS have research domains similar to that of MIROS, discussion also veered to future collaboration and on the possibility of MIROS joining the International Cooperation on Theories and Concepts in Traffic Safety (ICTCT).

Organized by the International Transport Forum (ITF) of OECD, the theme was “Achieving Ambitious and Realistic Road Safety Targets: The Safe System Approach”. Findings from ITF research were disseminated on the topics of road safety targets and the safe system approach, speed management and vulnerable road user safety.

Five delegates from Shell Philippines and the University of Philippines visited MIROS. MIROS was represented by Prof Madya Dr Haji Mohd Faudzi, Dr Iskandar Abdullah and LS Kee. The discussion focused on road safety education.

DG ‘s visit to VTI was largely focused on briefings and discussions that included organizational structure, Intelligent Speed Adaptation project, simulators and possible collaborations. Professor Farhan also visited VTI’s library, crash test facilities, the highway laboratory and the printing room.

A conference attended primarily by Swedish road safety advocates with all foreign participants being invited speakers. Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan represented Malaysia and updated the delegates on the latest road safety news from Malaysia. During a parallel seminar on the second day, Professor Farhan gave a presentation entitled “Road Safety – the Malaysian Way”.

Organized by the Malaysian Institute of Transport (MITRANS), this campaign was aimed at students and staff of UiTM. On the day of the launch, Muammar Quadaffi gave a talk on “The Functions and Roles of MIROS in Reducing Crash Rates and Safe Driving Techniques”. MIROS also participated in the exhibition.

Vehicle and Injury Crash Investigation Training at Birmingham Automotive Safety Center (BASC)
8 June - 15 August 2008, University of Birmingham, UK

In a move to develop skills in investigating vehicle crashes, the Vehicle Safety and the Biomechanics Research Centre arranged for Crash Investigation Training for two of its research officers, Mohd Huzaifah Muntalip and Zarir Hafiz Zulkipli with hands-on practical sessions led by an overseas expert, Dr. Ahamedalli M Hassan, from Birmingham Automotive Safety Centre Birmingham University. The two-month training stint, held at United Kingdom, covered significant topics related to crash investigation such as integration of accident data, crash site characteristics, collision deformation classification (CDC), source of data and delta V (change of velocity) calculation. The training also covered Abbreviate Injury Scale (AIS) Coding that has been used widely by doctors around the world to code road crash injury.

Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah assumes the post as the Director General of MIROS.

MUARC’s Current Activities and Research Areas
30 July 2008, MIROS

Invited speakers from MUARC are Prof Roderick McClure and Dr Jennie Oxley. MUARC was formed in 1987 and is Australia's largest multi-disciplinary research centre specialising in the study of injury and injury prevention.

MUARC launched its Malaysian node, coinciding with Monash University Sunway campus 10th Anniversary Celebration.

A workshop that introduces social science research and outlines the differences between planning and conducting a qualititative vs quantitative study.

International Road Safety Training Course: A Swedish Experience
24 June 2008, MIROS

Ir Muhammad Marizwan, Head of the Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering Unit gave a lecture on his experience attending the road safety training course in Sweden last April.

Prof Dato' Ir Dr Radin Umar, former Director General of MIROS began his first day as the Director General of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education.

First Annual MIROS Board Meeting
26 May 2008, MIROS

Introduction of MIROS to the Board Members and a discussion on the direction of MIROS.

SAFEX 2008, organised by road safety experts IVV and sponsored by Driving Instructors Association (DIA), is the world’s road safety conference to target driver trainers and driver education by providing an actual international perspective on the issues involved in reducing the number of deaths on the world's roads. The conference offered opportunities to make new contacts with road safety practitioners, academics, and politicians, key researchers and members of the driver training industry from around the world. Some of the provisional subjects covered in the conference such as young drivers, ageing driver population, graduated licensing, post-test driver education, new initiatives in driver education and educational interventions that lead to safer driving behaviour. The SAFEX 2008 Conference was attended by Noradrenalina Isah from the Human Factors and Accident Costing Unit and Farah Anida Mansor of Education and Training Unit.

Second year students from UNIMAS' Cognitive Sciences Programme came for an industrial visit to MIROS. Agenda included a presentation from both sides, a Q & A session and site visit.

Attended by all MIROS’ research officers with its agenda included a one and half day of proposals presentations.

The annual RTIRN Board meeting was held at MIROS and was attended by all RTIRN’s Board Members.

Speakers included Dr. Robyn Norton, Dr. Adnan Hyder, Dr. Junaid Razzak, Dr. Francis Afukaar, Dr. Martha Hijar, Datuk Suret Singh, Dr. Gururaj and Dr. Wilson Odero. Symposium was attended by all MIROS’ research officers.

Discussions on Non-Standard Motorcycle Helmet protocol studies were chaired by RTIRN Board members during this one and half day workshop. Participants came from local and international universities and research centres.

Discussions were on the continuation of in-house meetings specifically on guidelines and procedures and the first ISO Workshop.

A Night with the Community
28 April 2008,Dewan Komuniti Presint 8, Putrajaya

Presentation was made to local community leaders in Putrajaya on the subject of road safety research; a collaboration with Perbadanan Putrajaya and JKJR.

MGRSP held its first introductory session with Mr. Robert Klein from Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) as its keynote speaker.

Each group involved 100 participants and facilitators. This workshop is a continuation of the previous Phase One Workshop held in December 2007. Attended by district Traffic Police chiefs and also district JPJ (Enforcement) officers. Speakers are Mr. Ray Shuey and Mr. Des Myers. This programme was fully sponsored by GRSP and co-organised with the Road Safety Department (JKJR). The ultimate outcome of the workshop is the identification of strategies for the future direction of traffic law enforcement in Malaysia that would lead to a reduction of incidences, severity and costs of road trauma.

Attended by all MIROS' Management & Professional Officers. It starts off with the signing and swearing of the Public Service oath ceremony. After a short briefing, the event was followed by a one and a half day of research proposals presentation by the research officers.

The International Programme supported by Sida in Sweden: “Road Traffic Safety” 2008
31 March–25 April 2008 , Lund University, Sweden

The training programme consisted of the following phases: preparation and project development. The preparation phase involved the participants to carry out preparatory work on data collection by identifying the most severe traffic safety problems with regard to policy, institutional and/or educational character in their respective countries prior to the actual training in Sweden. The project development phase was held in Lund, Sweden whereby during this phase the participants defined and developed their project ideas based on the lectures, training activities and study visits while being facilitated by their tutors from Lund University. Upon completion of the training programme, the participants were required to design several counter measures at the national level for their respective home countries. With the assistance from the tutors in Lund, the participants need to develop an evaluation programme in order to discover the effects of the counter measures designed earlier. The results of the projects will be presented at a follow-up and evaluation seminar which will be held in one of the participating countries. The training in Lund, Sweden was attended by Ir Muhammad Marizwan b. Abdul Manan from the Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering Unit.

Attended by all research officers from of VSB Research Centre, the workshop was a continuation of brainstorming and drafting the Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) for crash investigation that was previously done in-house. The main frame and main contents of the SOP were successfully completed. This is vital for setting up the quality and safety of the operation as well as to fulfill the ISO requirement.

A lecture by Iskandar Abdul Hamid and Abdul Rahmat Abdul Manap from the Biomechanics and Injury Control Unit on their learning experience about how CASR conducts their research-based, on-scene crash investigations.

Professor Jack McLean gave a brief presentation to MIROS Research Officers. Professor McLean is the Founding Director of the Centre for Automotive Safety Research at the University of Adelaide.

F1 Road Safety Forum and Exhibition by Allianz (M) Bhd
25 February, Wisma MCA, KL

Assoc Prof Dr Faudzi represented MIROS for a presentation entitled “Facts and Figures of Malaysian Road Safety”. The exhibition included F1 safety tools and equipment. There were also representatives from Allianz Centre of Technology and F1 experts from Germany.

Meeting with the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Malaysian Highway Authority(LLM), Public Work Department (JKR) and Road Safety Department (JKJR) on the co-ordination of Malaysia’s Accident Database System regarding Automated Enforcement System (AES).

Attended by representatives from MIROS, JKJR, Ministry of High Education (MOHE), LLM, JKR.

Introduction to ISO for MIROS’ ISO team.

KPI Workshop
31 January-1 February, Sunway, Selangor

Continuation of the first KPI Workshop held in December 2007.

A presentation regarding the Safety, Health and Environment Code of Practice for Transportation was given to the MoTour Chief Secretary, Y. Bhg Datuk Dr Victor Wee.The event was also attended by representatives from JPJ, Department Safety & Health (DOSH), Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), and CRAM.

An inter-centre bowling tourney. 78 MIROS staff participated and awards for Best Male and Female Bowlers and Best Team were given out.

Message was delivered by Director General, Prof Ir Dr Radin Umar and attended by all MIROS staff.

Laos' Motorcycle Safety Tour
16-20 December 2007, MIROS

5-day motorcycle safety study tour organized by Handicap International, consisting of eight people including representatives from the Laos Ministry of Communications, Transport, Post and Construction (MCTPC), the Laotian Traffic Police and the Laotian Ministry of Health.

70 participants attended this half-day workshop which included executive representatives from PDRM, JPJ, JKJR and MIROS. This workshop is to receive and ensure high-level national support and endorsement for building capacity through the professional development of traffic law enforcement officers.

A 2-day course entitled ‘Biomechanics, Human Tolerance on Impact and Current Traffic Issues’. Speakers are Professor Emeritus Murray Mackay and Elaine Wodzin. Participants include representatives from MIROS, JKJR, PDRM, JPJ, JKR, LLM, MOH and Bomba.

A training session for Alvin Poi from the Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering Unit and Mr. Raymond Teoh of Road Safety Department (JKJR) was conducted at ARRB Group office in Melbourne, Australia. The aim of the training session is to provide knowledge and enhance skills for the two officers who will be handling iRAP-related matters in Malaysia. These include the web-based iRAP software and several relevant analysis tools.

MIROS organised a Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Workshop from 6th to 8th December 2007 at Pan Pacific Hotel, KLIA. About 20 participants who constitute officers and the secretariat attended this workshop to identify our KPI.

iRAP Steering Committee
22-23 November 2007, Marriot Hotel, Putrajaya

International Road Assessment Project Steering Committee Meeting.

Visit from Gerald Waldron (Managing Director of ARRB) and Kieran Sharp (Business Manager, Asset Technology of ARRB) from Australian Road Research Board (ARRB). Includes a short presentation from both sides and a lunch attended by Prof Radin, Waldron, Sharp, Datuk Suret of JKJR, Dr Wong and Ir Marizwan.

Majlis Keselamatan Jalan Raya’s Annual General Meeting in Johor Bahru, Johor. Attended by Prof Ir Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi.

The 2-month training focused primarily on how to conduct on-spot investigations. The training consisted of lectures, course materials, real-world accident investigation analysis and also a visit to road safety related department in South Australia. The primary aim of the training is to equip the participants with pertinent expertise in accident reconstruction. The training was attended by Iskandar Abdul Hamid and Abdul Rahmat Abdul Manap from the Biomechanics and Injury Control Unit.

Majlis Ramah Mesra Syawal 1428, a first of its kind at MIROS.

Asia Pacific Occupational Safety & Health Organization
30 October-2 November 2007, Singapore

The Asia Pacific Occupational Safety & Health Organization had its 23rd conference in Singapore from 30 October to 2 November. Prof Radin had a slot on 1 November which was aptly titled ‘Role and Functions of MIROS’.

A workshop on the progress of 4 iRAP pilot projects conducted in Malaysia, Costa Rica, Chile and South Africa was held in Windsor, London. The teams working in Costa Rica, Chile, South Africa and Malaysia presented the summary of their respective progress report and current results. Mr. Rob Mclnerney from ARRB presented the pilot project in Malaysia while Alvin Poi from the Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering Unit had the opportunity to explain MIROS’ roles in the project and its future plans for Malaysia.

A delegate of 13 from the Malaysian Institute of Transport (MITRANS) made a visit to MIROS. MITRANS UiTM is a TRANSLINK project funded by the European Commission AsiaLink Grant. The delegate comprised of representatives from UiTM Shah Alam, Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology, Institute for Transport Studies of University of Leeds and Civil Department of University of Indonesia.

REAL-WORLD CRASHWORTHINESS INVESTIGATION (RCI) 2007
20-21 August 2007, Ipoh

Malaysia has one of the highest accident rates with fatalities resulting from accidents also being high. To reduce accident rates, evidence-based intervention strategies need to be designed based on knowledge acquired from crash investigations. In a move to develop skills in investigating vehicle crashes, the Vehicle Safety and the Biomechanics Research Centre of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research(MIROS) organised a Real-World Crashworthiness Investigation(RCI) Workshop with hands-on practical sessions led by an overseas expert, Dr. Ahamedalli M Hassan, from Birmingham Automotive Safety Centre Birmingham University. The RCI Workshop covered significant topics related to crash investigation such as integration of accident data, crash site characteristics, collision deformation classification (CDC), source of data and delta V (change of velocity) calculation.