Drivers Urged To Be Considerate Throughout The Festive Season
MIRI: Road users are urged to always prioritise safety and practise considerate driving, particularly ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season which sees an increase in the volume of vehicles on the road.
Sarawak Minister for Transport and Senadin Assemblyman, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, stated that awareness among road users regarding the importance of complying with traffic regulations is vital to reduce the risk of accidents.
According to him, statistics from the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) of the Royal Malaysia Police show that approximately 85 per cent of road accidents are caused by human negligence.
“Among the most frequently recorded accidents are rear-end collisions, loss of vehicle control due to speeding or self-skidding, side-on collisions when entering or exiting junctions, head-on collisions, and minor side-swipes,” he detailled.
He said this during the Road Safety Campaign organised by the Sarawak Road Safety Council and the Sarawak Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with the Miri Divisional Resident's Office at the Petronas Permyjaya Petrol Station on Friday.
He added that the increase in the number of vehicles on the road contributes to around 10 per cent of accidents, while weather factors, road conditions, and terrain contribute approximately 5 per cent.
Consequently, he emphasised that road safety requires the cooperation of all parties and cannot rely solely on the government or enforcement agencies.
In the meantime, road users were also reminded to obey traffic rules, refrain from using mobile phones while driving, ensure vehicles are in good condition, and obtain sufficient rest before embarking on long journeys.
The programme also involved the distribution of helmets sponsored by the Sarawak Ministry of Transport and duit raya packets to road users as an effort to foster a safer driving culture throughout the festive season.
At the same time, he took the opportunity to wish Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all Malaysians and prayed that all road users reach their respective destinations safely. -UKASnews
