Published by: THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE
Aufa Mardhiah
KUALA LUMPUR (2 September 2024) — Transport Minister Anthony Loke emphasises the urgent need to improve road safety across Asia.
He highlighted concerning statistics, noting that while road traffic fatalities in Malaysia had decreased from 7,152 in 2016 to 4,273 in 2021, the trend reversed in recent years, with fatalities rising to 6,443 in 2023.
“These numbers underscore the urgent need for renewed and intensified efforts to address road safety challenges,” he said at the Conference on Asia Road Safety (CARS) 2024 on Monday.
To tackle the rising fatalities, the government has established a Cabinet committee on road safety and traffic congestion.
“The committee will meet regularly to develop, review and refine road safety strategies,” he added, demonstrating the government’s commitment to reducing road deaths.
One of the committee’s key initiatives is the daily publication of fatal traffic crash statistics, modelled after the Health Ministry’s Covid-19 updates.
This strategy aims to raise public awareness of road safety issues and encourage safer driving practices.
Loke also discussed the Road Safety Plan 2022-2030, which targets a 50% reduction in road deaths by 2030, with the ultimate goal of zero fatalities.
As the first phase of this plan concludes in 2024, he called for a review and refinement of strategies to ensure continued progress.
He highlighted the success of the Commuting Safety Support Programme, which has reduced commuting-related road crashes by 10% and unsafe riding behaviours by 21%.
Loke encouraged more companies to join the programme to further decrease road accidents involving commuters.
He also pointed to the My50 unlimited monthly travel pass for RapidKL trains and buses in the Klang Valley as a vital public transport initiative that reduces road congestion and traffic risks.
He expressed support for the continuation of this initiative in Budget 2025.
Loke called for continued innovation in road safety technology, citing the success of Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research’s LIDAR-based forward collision warning system for motorcyclists, which has significantly reduced safety-critical events.
He urged experts at CARS 2024 to contribute their ideas to enhance road safety across the region.
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