TAPAH: The Transport Ministry today launched its Road Safety Campaign and Integrated Ops, which starts from Saturday until Feb 1, in conjunction with the Chinese New Year.
Its minister, Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the campaign themed "Pandu Cermat, Sampai Selamat" (drive carefully, arrive safely) would be conducted in concert with the police's Ops Selamat.
Other agencies and departments involved in the campaign and Integrated Ops are the Road Transport Department (RTD), the Road Safety Department (JKJR), the Civil Defence Force, the Fire Department, the Ministry of Health, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) and highway concession companies.
Loke said Plus Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) would also use drone technology to monitor traffic conditions, as it is expecting about two million vehicles to ply the highway during the holiday season.
"The main purpose of the campaign is to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities, though the number of cases dropped," he said.
Loke said this in his speech at the launch of the national-level Road Safety Campaign and Integrated Ops at the Tapah Rest and Recreation (R&R) Area (northbound) here, today.
Also present were Road Safety Department director-general Mohd Nasri Ishak, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research chairman Datuk Suret Singh and state police chief Datuk Razarudin Husain.
Loke said according to police statistics, the total number of road accidents between January and November last year was 519,913 cases compared to 548,598 cases for the same corresponding period in 2018.
"A total of 5,661 deaths from accidents were recorded last year, compared to 6,284 cases in 2018," he said adding that 10,000 personnel from various agencies and departments would be involved in the operations.
Loke said during the last Chinese New Year's Integrated Ops, a total of 20,829 accident cases were recorded compared to 21,041 cases in 2018.
From that, 216 casualties were recorded last year compared to 226 in 2018, Loke said, adding that most of the accident cases were reported to have occurred on federal and rural roads.
Loke said 2,000 Road Transport Department (RTD) personnel would be involved in this nationwide operation and the pre-ops was from Jan 11 until tomorrow.
"The pre-ops are currently being conducted at bus terminals to ensure the vehicles are road-worthy.
"The ministry also issued warnings to heavy vehicle users against using the highways during the Chinese New Year period," he said adding that the warning was effective for Jan 23, 24, 27 and 28.