THE Penang government today praised the state’s traffic police for going beyond their duty in handling a traffic crisis on Penang Bridge.

A lorry loaded with sand tipped over after one of its rear tyres came off while heading towards the island. 

The lorry driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the divider, causing the lorry to tip over and pour sand onto the bridge’s island- and mainland-bound lanes.

The incident at 11.15am on KM7.9 on the bridge caused a traffic standstill that stretched kilometres.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he learned traffic police officers, who responded to the incident, helped clear the sand.

“I want to congratulate the state police chief for having such good officers who went beyond their call of duty.

“It was not their job (to clear the sand) but they had put in the effort to help ease the situation.

“Seeing how they had reacted in the traffic crisis, the officers deserve our praise. We should emulate this kind of attitude,” he said.

Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuar Omar said the incident is being investigated under Rule 10 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 (LN 166/59) for failing to control one’s vehicle.

He confirmed no one was injured in the incident. – February 20, 2018.