Zahid: Govt targets 50pct cut in road deaths by 2030
PUTRAJAYA: The government, through the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion, has set a target of reducing road accident fatalities, particularly those involving motorcyclists, by 50 per cent by 2030.
The Malaysian government has set a target to reduce road accident fatalities by 50 percent by 2030, with a particular focus on motorcyclists. Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasized that coordination among ministries and agencies would be strengthened to ensure effective implementation of interventions. Last year, 6,537 lives were lost in road accidents, with about 66 percent of fatalities involving motorcycle riders or pillion riders.
Zahid stated that conventional approaches are no longer sufficient, and targeted interventions for high-risk groups are necessary. The government also needs to address factors like infrastructure safety, healthcare, education, enforcement, and urban planning. The socioeconomic losses resulting from road fatalities were estimated at RM30 billion based on the Value of Statistical Life (VOSL) approach.
The Road Safety Framework Programme (Safero) will be implemented in stages, collaborating with various ministries and organizations to leverage industry expertise in defensive driving and driver behavior monitoring. Zahid also highlighted the importance of strengthening the Op Cegah initiative, which aims to raise awareness among employers and employees about occupational accident prevention.
He stressed that road safety is a shared responsibility that requires a whole-of-society approach, and success should be measured by the number of lives saved rather than the number of campaigns or operations carried out.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
