MALAYSIA — Perhaps a universal rule that we can all agree on is that drivers should use their signals on the road. 

If you are one of the many Singaporeans crossing the border to Malaysia during the Chinese New Year period, this timely road safety reminder is for you.

Popular Malaysian YouTuber Bryson Lew created a catchy jingle to spread the message on the importance of using signalling indicators when switching lanes or turning, a requirement by law in both Singapore and Malaysia.

The viral music video showed Mr Lew jamming to the song with a dance, along with a compilation of exasperated people pointing to their car signals and some harrowing examples of things going south when motorists don’t use their signals.

One clip showed a van swerving to the lane on its right abruptly, causing the motorcyclist behind to skid and fall on the road.

Sung in Mandarin, Malay and English, the trilingual song uses a phrase commonly uttered by irate Malaysian drivers: “Today I met someone who did not use their signal again. Is this your father's road?

“Using your signal is the most basic communication between two vehicles, is it hard to use your signal before you turn the corner?”

The viral tune, posted on Jan 21, amassed more than 120,000 views and more than 270 comments as of Monday (Jan 29) on YouTube.

It seems like the song had struck a chord with many online users, who took to the comments section to share their experiences with rogue drivers.

One said: “Hope this film can warn those who don’t use their signal so that there are less traffic accidents!”

Another added: “(This) must (be) played on all the electronic billboards in Malaysia.”

Yet another commented: “This song is most suitable for beginner drivers.” 

There are seemingly no shortage of unruly drivers in Singapore as well, because some comments mentioned similar encounters here.

One stated: “Singapore also has lots of drivers who never bother to give a signal when turning left or right.” 

A second recalled: “Once in Sembawang, Singapore, I met a youth who did not use his signal, jam braked and turned to the left.

“These young people who have not experienced the world will one day learn.”

A study last year by an American car subscription company Finn ranked Malaysia as the third most likely country where you would “die on the road”, with 22.48 road deaths for every 100,000 people.

There were 6,080 deaths and 545,588 road accidents recorded in Malaysia in 2022, Malaysia's transport ministry said in a report by The Star news outlet.

In Singapore, 71 people were killed in traffic accidents in the first half of last year, a 61.4 per cent increase from 44 traffic accident deaths in the same period in 2022, the Singapore Police Force said.

“The top causes (of traffic accidents) were failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to have proper control of the motorcycle, and changing lanes without due care," the police added.