Learning about road safety

THE launch of the National Revised Road Safety Education Module for Primary Schools, aimed at nurturing a safe culture on the road among the younger generation, is very timely.

Developed through smart partnership between the Education and Transport ministries, the module was formally implemented in all primary schools beginning this year.

The collaboration between the two ministries started in 2007 when road safety was absorbed in the Bahasa Melayu subject in primary schools, and lessons were conducted for at least two hours a month.

I believe efforts to instil the road safety culture among students will help to produce a young generation who would be courteous and responsible when they start driving or riding their own vehicles.

Such efforts are very important because, on average, 19 lives are lost due to road accidents every day.

In the past 10 years, 67,882 people were killed on the road. Young people between 16 and 25 years old comprise the highest number of deaths in that period, with more than 2,000 killed each year.

Although the number of casualties due to road accidents has slightly dropped by 6.8% to 6,284 last year compared to 6,740 in 2017, it still contributed to losses of about RM9bil.

Therefore, educating students on road safety is the best way to create more courteous, thoughtful and law-abiding road users now and in the future.

It will also complement efforts taken by the authorities and highway operators who have implemented various measures to reduce road accidents.

Research shows that driving habits and attitudes are the major causes of road accidents, and human mistake contributed to over 80% of accidents.

There are also cases of road users driving or riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and this is among the major causes of fatal accidents.

If students embrace safety and value their lives while on the road, they are unlikely to violate the law by driving or riding recklessly.

In developed countries, focus is given on inculcating positive values in school. It is done continuously so that the positive values become a culture.

In Japan, for example, schoolchildren are taught to bow as a show of respect to the drivers who stopped their vehicles in order to allow them to cross the road. Indirectly, it teaches the children to always respect others, and when they grow up, they would not endanger the lives of other road users by driving or riding recklessly.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE National Road Safety Council member