The Road Safety Department (JKJR) will intensify the advocacy programme in schools located at the high-risk accident areas in an effort to increase the students' awareness on road safety.

JKJR deputy director-general Datuk Roslan Eusoff said schools located near the main roads and industrial areas have contributed significantly to the number of road accidents involving students.

"Traffic flow early in the morning will be busy due to the increase in the number of vehicles where people go to work and send their children to school, so the accident risk involving students will be greater," he told reporters after officiating the state-level Road Safety Programme With Petron Malaysia at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pekula Jaya, Tikam Batu, here Tuesday.

Roslan said a total of 467 accidents were recorded last year involving individuals aged 16 to 23.

"There is no latest data on the number of students involved in the accidents, but from the age factor of 16 to 20, it includes the age of school students.

"Usually accidents involved the students who have motorcycle and among traffic offences committed by them including failure to use the turn signals, not having driving license, not wearing a helmet, and riding motorcycle in a dangerous manner," he said.

- BERNAMA