MOT's target to reduce death index due to road accidents achieved

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry's (MOT) target of reducing the death index due to road accidents yearly through the Malaysia Road Safety Plan 2014-2020 (PKJRM 2014-2020) has been achieved.

Based on the final results of the report and achievement of the PKJRM 2014-2020, all programmes, initiatives and intervention measures implemented by the ministry have contributed to the reduction in the rate of road deaths at 4.8 per cent per annum between 2016 (7,152 deaths) and 2019 (6,167 deaths).

"The target of lowering the death index is also achieved from 3.4 in 2010 to 1.97 in 2019 (target 2.0).

"The achievement and success of PKJRM 2014-2020 is the result of cooperation and support from various government agencies, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and all walks of life," the ministry said in a statement, today.

It added that all programmes, initiatives, and intervention measures under PKJRM 2014-2020 will be continued and improved in PKJRM 2021-2030.

MOT said the plan was expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2021.

Based on statistics from 2010 to 2019 released by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), on average, more than 500,000 cases of road accidents are reported and these involved almost 7,000 deaths each year.

"Every road accident will involve huge costs to the country including medical costs, infrastructure repair costs, increased business costs and costs due to loss of productivity.

"The biggest cost is loss of life which will have a negative social impact on the next-of-kin or family of the victim, therefore the ministry introduced PKJRM 2014-2020," MOT said.

MOT said PKRJM was created in line with global efforts to address road safety issues under the United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.

The main objective of PKJRM 2014-2020 was to reduce the death rate due to road accidents by up to 50 per cent by 2020, compared to the estimated number of deaths if no intervention measures were implemented.

PKJRM 2014-2020 aimed to reduce the death index for every 10,000 vehicles to 2.0 in 2020 compared to 3.4 in 2010.

Based on the analysis of accident data in situations where no intervention measures are implemented, deaths due to road accidents in the country were expected to increase by 56 per cent from 6,872 deaths in 2010 to 10,716 deaths in 2020.

PKJRM 2014-2020 contained five key focus areas including road safety management, safer road users and post-accident management.

All of these key areas contained a variety of initiatives, programmes and intervention measures that had been designed to increase awareness and compliance with the law, thereby contributing to increased levels of road safety.

-- BERNAMA