Halving road deaths by 2030 achievable with focus on motorcyclists, experts say
KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya’s target to halve road fatalities by 2030 is achievable only through decisive measures targeting motorcyclists and high-risk infrastructure, road safety experts say.
Malaysian road safety experts believe achieving a 50% reduction in road deaths by 2030 is feasible, primarily through targeted interventions for motorcyclists and high-risk areas. Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia's Dr Ng Choy Peng emphasizes that motorcyclists are responsible for the majority of road casualties and recommends measures to address speeding, unsafe riding habits, helmet usage, novice training, and high-risk locations.
She suggests enhancing post-licensing education and phased interventions for young riders, focusing on hazard perception and road-risk awareness.
Dr Ng also points out the increasing threat faced by delivery and ride-hailing riders who frequently work long hours under tight schedules. She urges platform operators to introduce measures that alleviate time pressure and promote safe riding instead of prioritizing speed. Dr Law Teik Hua from the Road Safety Research Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia supports Ng's views and advocates for data-driven engineering solutions.
He believes conducting detailed analyses of crash hotspots, traffic flow, and road design can lead to targeted improvements like adjusting intersection geometry, enhancing road markings, installing barriers, and creating dedicated motorcycle lanes.
Both experts also stress the need for automated systems to curb red-light running, speeding, and reckless maneuvers. Dr Law advocates integrating crash statistics, traffic volume, and road network data into a unified platform. He supports traffic enforcement programs that target fatal collision behaviors and locations rather than simply issuing fines, with clear performance tracking and agency accountability.
Both recommend that Putrajaya review these measures annually to identify shortcomings and refine implementation. The suggestions come after Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the government's goal to cut road accident fatalities by 50% by 2030. Motorcyclists and pillion riders are currently responsible for about 66% of total fatalities, despite making up only 14% of vehicles involved in accidents.
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