Govt wants to cut road deaths by half by 2030

Malaysia's government aims to halve road deaths by 2030, following the tragic loss of 6,537 lives in crashes last year, according to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. In a meeting chaired by Zahid, it was emphasized that the government's success in road safety will be measured by the number of lives saved, rather than the number of campaigns or operations carried out.

Motorcyclists were found to be disproportionately represented among the victims, with motorcyclists accounting for 14% of vehicles involved in accidents but making up 66% of all road deaths. This glaring disparity indicates that the government must prioritize measures aimed at protecting vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, while also enhancing road infrastructure, law enforcement, education, healthcare, and urban planning.

Zahid pointed out that road-related fatalities cost the nation an estimated RM30 billion in losses last year. He further highlighted the significant issue of commuting accidents, with Socso figures showing that the death rate among workers traveling to and from work was 2.4 times higher than accidents that occur at the workplace.

In response to these alarming statistics, the government plans to collaborate with various stakeholders, including Socso, police, the road transport department, and employers, to identify high-risk workplaces and areas and introduce a staged road safety program for heavy vehicles. The initiative will focus on defensive driving, driver fatigue, and monitoring driving behavior to reduce the alarming road accident rates in Malaysia.