Lam Thye: Make road safety a way of life
KUALA LUMPUR: The increasing number of fatal road accidents every year, despite preventive and enforcement measures taken by the government and authorities, is an alarming sign.
Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said this was tragic, especially when it turned many children into orphans and deprived families of their breadwinners, causing hardship and misery for those left behind.
Lee said based on his observations and studies, the number of accidents continued to rise every year because many Malaysians were not able to instil road safety culture into their life.
“Campaigns have been conducted and enforcements boosted, especially during the festive season, but road accidents and fatalities keep rising. It boils down to the attitude of drivers. This has to change if we are to bring down these statistics.
“We need to make road safety a way of life and put it into practice. We need to teach our children to become responsible road users, so that when they grow up, they will adopt safety measures.
“We also need stringent law enforcement to ensure road users respect road safety rules and regulations.
“If our attitude does not change, the number of accidents will continue to increase every year .”
Lee was commenting on the statement by Deputy Inspector General of Police Datuk Mazlan Mansor, who said the 14-day Chinese New Year Op Selamat 16/2020, which ended on Feb 1, recorded 23,208 accidents, an increase of 2,379 cases compared with 20,829 in last year’s Op Selamat.
The death rate increased by six per cent to 230 cases this year, up from 216 last year, while fatal cases recorded a nine per cent increase to 206 cases this year compared with 197 last year.
Lee advised road users to value their lives and remember their loved ones.
“It is time for Malaysians to make a pledge this new year and make road safety a culture and a way of life.”
He advised motorists not to speed or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and urged the local authorities to ensure city and municipal roads were maintained as statistics showed that poor road conditions were one of the causes of accidents.