KUALA LUMPUR: Although 6,740 people were killed in traffic accidents in Malaysia last year, the figure is markedly lower than the 7,152 who lost their lives on the roads in 2016.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Ting Lai said that 2017’s road accident fatality index for every 10,000 registered vehicles was 2.34, compared to 2.59 the previous year.
“I intend to reduce the road accident death index for every 10,000 registered vehicles to 2.0 this year,” he said when launching the national-level Road Safety Campaign and Integrated Ops in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration here on Saturday.
Liow said motorcyclists still comprise the vast majority of traffic accident deaths, with 4,348 losing their lives on the roads in 2017.
Meanwhile, Liow said the implementation of the Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS) has proven to be a tremendous success.
The system, which is an integration of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) and the Kejara demerit points system, recorded a 95 per cent rate of compliance with speed limits since it was implemented. -- BERNAMA