Siva Selan in Other News On December 1, 2021, 11:58 am

Delivery Rider Nearly Falls Into Massive Pothole In Sabah, Here’s What You Can Do If You See One On The Road

Massive pothole on Kota Kinabalu road

Most of us have the privilege of owning a car and being able to drive to get to where we want to go easily. But then comes unforgettable experiences – namely potholes – that can be found on our roads that pose potential risks to road users.

These notorious deformities that pop up all year round are probably the least favourite thing we like about our roads. A massive pothole recently spotted in Sabah is testament of how pesky potholes can be – a delivery rider was captured on security footage narrowly escaping a deep plunge into a ‘mother of all potholes’ there.

Rider nearly falls into massive pothole in Sabah

Video credit: Friends Of JPJ

On 28th November 2021, a CCTV footage of a foodpanda delivery rider braking suddenly in front of a massive pothole on Jalan Likas Jaya in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah was shared on social media by the Facebook page Friends Of JPJ.

In the 38-second video, the rider, who happened to be the only motorcyclist in the video, can be seen stopping abruptly in front of the massive pothole which he did not seem to notice from far away.

The sudden stop led to him losing his balance and falling off his motorbike. Thankfully, he landed safely on a grassy patch just next to the pothole, and was able to remount his motorbike and drive past the pothole on a second attempt.

At the same time, other vehicles that were on the same road can be seen moving slowly and carefully avoiding the pothole – which looks almost like a portal to another realm.

CCTV footage capturing the formation of the massive pothole
Video credit: ERA Sabah / @rizalchubz

Shocked by the sheer size of the pothole and potential accident the rider could have faced due to it, unhappy netizens left comments on the Facebook post urging authorities to repair the pothole quickly. Many also pointed out that passers-by could have at least set up a temporary warning sign for the safety of fellow road users.

But as per an update shared by Rafidah Robert on the same day, thoughtful individuals have indeed placed temporary barriers to block access to the road. Large leaves were also placed around the massive pothole to alert drivers of it.

Repairs to the pothole on Jalan Likas Jaya
Image credit: Info Lalu Lintas Sabah

Likewise, a recent update by the Facebook page Info Lalu Lintas Sabah on 30th November confirms that repair works are already in place to patch the pothole that is about 3 metres deep.

What to do if you see a pothole on the road?

Image credit: Rafidah Robert

A common practice among road users when they see a pothole is to avoid it if they managed to spot it from a distance. Otherwise, they may simply run over it, which may lead to further damage such as vehicle alignment issues, or worst – a terrible accident if the pothole is as large as the one seen recently in Sabah.

But here are some steps you can take to improve the situation if you happen to see a pothole on a road that you are on.

1. Set up a warning sign to alert other drivers

You can do this by placing objects around the pothole that are visible to road users such as a plastic cone, a log or big leaves as a temporary sign.

Potholes, especially big ones, can be incredibly dangerous to vehicles. Setting up a warning sign helps other drivers to not drive over them and it protects them from potential accidents.

2. Lodge a complaint via a phone call to relevant authorities

It’s highly recommended that you alert the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) or the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to patch up potholes.

JKR and LLM are the two main government organisations that deal with complaints regarding road conditions. So take note of their hotline in case you come across a pothole next time:

JKR Hotline: 1800-88-5004
LLM Hotline: 1800-88-7752

You can also call other local city council such as DBKL, MBPJ or MBSA to make a complaint about potholes in the area. If you’re unsure of the exact location of the pothole, take photos and send them over to relevant authorities via email instead.

Massive pothole in Sabah

It’s indeed shocking to see this huge pothole that could have caused serious injuries to road users in Sabah. We’re glad that the rider escaped this pothole, and that authorities are on their way to repair it quickly.

However, with the rainy season already here, it’s likely that we may be spotting many more potholes on our roads. As such, it’s important for us to take note of deteriorating road conditions and report any potholes to the authorities to ensure that no one will be harmed.