Kuala lumpur: Motorcyclists and pillion riders, who make up about 66 per cent of Malaysia's road fatalities, should be at the core of the nation's road safety strategy, according to Road Safety Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. He emphasized the need for a dedicated national action plan that includes safer motorcycle lanes, enhanced road surfaces, improved lighting, stronger enforcement against dangerous riding, and a heightened focus on defensive riding and protective gear.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lee advocated for a more consistent, targeted, and technology-driven traffic enforcement, especially in areas prone to accidents. He highlighted the importance of addressing dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, red-light violations, driving under the influence, and reckless maneuvers.
Lee reiterated the government's objective, established through the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion, to halve road fatalities by 2030. He emphasized the need for this goal to be realized through a comprehensive, measurable, and sustained national road safety program.
Highlighting a Safe System approach, Lee called for roads, vehicles, speed limits, and traffic systems to be designed to minimize crash severity when human errors occur. He stressed the importance of identifying high-risk roads and black spots using data and systematically upgrading them.
Lee also underscored the necessity of lifelong road safety education, starting in schools and extending to driving schools, workplaces, and community programs. He urged employers to adopt safe-commuting policies, given the high number of crashes involving people commuting to and from work.
In addition, Lee called for stricter enforcement on commercial and heavy vehicles, focusing on speed limits, vehicle roadworthiness, driver working hours, and other safety requirements. He advocated for a stronger post-crash response, including faster emergency services, increased public awareness of first aid and CPR, and wider availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to save lives.
Lee urged the government to set clear annual milestones towards the 2030 target, enabling the public to track progress in reducing fatalities, identifying vulnerable groups, recognizing high-risk locations, and assessing corrective measures taken. He proposed that road safety performance should be evaluated by serious injuries, crashes involving vulnerable road users, and the effectiveness of enforcement and preventive measures, rather than focusing solely on fatalities.
"Six thousand road deaths a year is not just a statistic. Behind every number is a human life, a family, and a community affected by tragedy," Lee said, underscoring the need for Malaysia to transition from a reactive approach to a preventive road safety culture that anticipates risks and prevents fatalities before they occur.