‘Ops Selamat’ launched to reduce road accidents
KUCHING: Police yesterday launched an integrated traffic enforcement operation codenamed ‘ Ops Sel amat ’ with the hope of reducing road accidents and fatalities during the Christmas and year- end celebrations.
State Police Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor said the state Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department had also created ‘subtek’ (small traffic operation unit) in every district to minimise road accidents. He said the unit would focus on ‘ black spot’ areas.
“The operation’ s main objectives are to ensure the reduct ion of accidents and deaths, smooth traffic flow and to conduct integrated crime prevention through patrols and spot checks,” he said at the launch of ‘ Ops Selamat’ at 30km Kuching- Serian Road. His text- of- speech was read out by state Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department head Superintendent Mohd Sar’ie Fauzi.
The operation started on Dec 18 and will end on Jan 1, 2017.
Mazlan said from Dec 18, 2015 to this Jan 1, the number of accident cases in the state was 690, which is 22 cases or 3.3 per cent more than a year ago. The number of road fatalities also increased during this period, from 14 in 2014 to 15 last year.
Mazlan said bad attitude and selfish road users were some of the major causes for the increase in road accidents last Christmas. Other factors included increase in traffic volume and bad roads.
He reminded motorists to be extra cautious on the road and to be tolerant to other road users.
On a related matter, Mazlan said the number of accidents between January and November this year was 18,315 cases, compared to 17,391 during the same period last year.
Also present at the ceremony were state JKJR director Davina Agnes Anteli, Serian Resident Dahim Nadot and Padawan district police chief Supt Aidil Bolhassan.