KUALA LUMPUR: Fatal road accidents in Malaysia appear to persist without resolution.
With a far-reaching impact, it involves the lives of the people and affects the economy and the nation's human capital.
Between January and October this year, there were 5,029 fatal accidents recorded, resulting in 5,364 deaths, Harian Metro reported.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the number of fatal accidents and death cases in the country have not decreased, compounded by the rising number of vehicles on the road.
The rise in the number of vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles, has also contributed to this.
"Nevertheless, we are deeply concerned about the death toll, which exceeds 6,000 every year.
"The majority of the fatalities were motorcyclists, accounting for nearly 65 per cent.
"So, we're fully aware that these death figures are alarmingly high, and despite various efforts, there has been no downward trend," he said in an interview with the Malay daily.
He said the government established a Cabinet committee to discuss measures and policies aimed at reducing road accident rates.
Among the measures included implementing speed limit meters in buses to reduce bus driving speeds, which will be mandatory for new buses, he said.
Additionally, he said, the government focuses on public transportation to ensure greater accessibility.
"We know that many people rely on motorcycles, so we are working to make public transport more convenient and offer people more options, as it is undoubtedly safer and more cost-effective.
"It can also help reduce traffic congestion. "We want to ensure that public transport is improved, particularly in the Klang Valley."
He said the government prioritised large projects like the LRT and MRT and the Demand Ride Transit (DRT), which allows people to use this service from their homes to nearby public transport stations.
He said the service had been implemented by private companies for two to three years, and through Prasarana, it operates in nine areas with nine MRT stations.
He said it will be expanded next year, and we have already received an additional 300 vans to be deployed around LRT station areas.
"We see this as a more effective step compared to buses, as buses cannot access every area."
With DRT, there is greater flexibility, encouraging its use among the public, he said.
So far, nine LRT stations are involved in the DRT service, he said.
"However, this alone will not solve the motorcycle accident problem, which we believe is due to the attitudes of riders and passengers themselves.
"From the statistics, it's clear that the majority of accidents involve young people using motorcycles," he said.
He said public awareness should be integrated through collaboration with the Youth and Sports Ministry.
"We can instil this awareness in the Rakan Muda programme to promote road safety.
"This will cover aspects of legal compliance, acquiring a licence, and safe and responsible driving.
"Additionally, we will include road safety in the curriculum at universities and schools."
He said the situation would not improve, despite tightening of laws, unless there was a shift in people's attitudes.
"The frequent accidents have an impact not only on the country's image but also on the heartbreaking number of deaths.
"We must view this from a humanitarian perspective.
"We should not compare ourselves to other countries but focus on how we can minimise accidents."