Not too fast, and definitely not furious – what it’s like to be a TP patrol officer!
By: Leow Su Ling
Police Life hits the road with Sergeant Azizul Hakeem Bin Abul Aziz, a Traffic Police (TP) patrol officer with a passion for keeping our roads safe.
What do you do?
As a TP officer, I patrol the roads daily to engage and educate road users on the importance of following road traffic rules. I also enforce these rules against errant road users.
What do TP officers look out for when they’re on the road?
Quite a few things. We have to ensure that motorists use their seatbelts properly; don’t use their handphones while driving; don’t beat red lights; and don’t exceed the speed limit.
I believe that all road users should be responsible for their actions. A motorist’s errant or irresponsible actions may endanger others. Every action has a ripple effect, so whenever you’re driving or riding, or even if you’re a pedestrian, please be responsible and considerate to others.
What kind of cases do TP officer usually attend to?
We attend to various incidents and accidents on our roads. Some of these incidents include enforcing traffic violations such as speeding, drink driving, driving without a license and driving whilst under disqualification. We also render assistance to motorists involved in road traffic accidents.
If there were three things you could advise all road users to do, what would they be?
First, I’d encourage all road users to adhere to traffic rules and regulations. The safety of all road users begins with you.
Second, always be vigilant when you’re driving or riding. Accidents happen when you’re complacent. All it takes is just a moment of lost concentration for an accident to occur. We must keep a constant lookout for road hazards, and for more vulnerable road users.
Lastly, be gracious and courteous on the roads. Signal your intentions early and give way to others, and don’t forget to smile, and thank others!
Tell us more about your TP motorcycle. How fast do you go on the road?
We have to abide by the traffic rules, including the speed limit, when on routine patrols. We enforce the laws, so we have to set a good example to other road users.
The motorcycles we’re currently using is the BMW R1250RT. It has 136 horsepower and can reach a top speed of 200 km/hr. More importantly, it comes with safety features such as anti-lock braking and traction control systems that help to keep us safer while we’re performing our duties.
As a TP officer, what’s the most memorable experience you’ve had on the road?
About two years ago, I was manning a roadblock when a driver refused to stop. I gave chase on my bike and the driver tried to evade capture by making attempts to side-swipe me.
My colleague and I eventually stopped him at a multi-storey carpark and arrested him with the help of other members of the public. It was heartening for me to have members of the public come forward to assist Police officers to prevent, deter and detect crime.
Doesn’t it get hot wearing the TP jacket and riding under the sun?
It does get hot at times, but the jacket has elbow guards and padding, as well as shoulder guards and a back guard to help minimise injuries in the event of an accident. We also don riding gear such as the full-face flip-up helmet, motorcycle gloves, riding breeches and riding boots to keep us safe.
Thanks for speaking with us! How do I become a TP Volunteer?
You can apply through the Volunteer Special Constabulary. After you’ve completed your training, you can indicate your preference to join the Traffic Police.
However, you don’t have to be a volunteer to contribute to road safety. Remember, road safety is everyone’s responsibility! Stay safe and see you on the road.
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