Yet another lorry with an attached crane has caused an accident on the road, damaging a taxi in the process. Although no one was seriously injured, this is another avoidable accident.

The Land Transport Authority's (LTA) comments were disappointing. Faced with 111 similar accidents from 2000 to 2006, all it did was distribute brochures to all lorry crane owners in October last year. After this latest accident, it is again reminding owners and drivers to be more aware of the consequences of their vehicles hitting road structures.

Such a response will do nothing to prevent another accident. The LTA should take concrete steps to prevent such wilful and negligent acts. It should impose heavy punishments, including jail terms, on errant drivers.

It should also make it mandatory for such vehicles to be installed with electronic devices that track the crane arm's position and sound an alarm if it is not at rest before moving off.

We do not need another crane-related accident, near-

miss or not, to realise more should be done to protect fellow road users against these drivers.

Steve Tan Peng Hoe