Terengganu takes immediate steps to curb fatal accidents on LPT 2

The Terengganu government will take prompt measures to curb fatal accidents on the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT 2).

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said among the initiatives would be stationing Malaysian Civil Defence Department teams along the route.

He said other measures included putting up more signboards, asking the Malaysian Highway Authority to identify the high-risk areas and suggesting that police set up speed traps.

"The measures are to remind motorists to alway exercise caution when using the expressway," he said after a briefing at the Ajil Toll Plaza, here Monday.

A 'hajat' prayer was also performed by about 300 people including the Menteri Besar, state government executive councillors, religious students and villagers.

According to Ahmad Razif, negligence was identified as the main cause of fatal accidents on LPT 2 and most cases took place during the day and along straight stretches of the expressway.

Nevertheless, the state government gave its assurance that LPT 2 was safe for use, while the wavy stretches had been remedied.

Ahmad Razif said the number of vehicles using LPT 2 was always increasing and currently, 25,000 vehicles were using LPT 2 per day.

He said the state government would ensure the security elements continued to be boosted, including requesting the consessionaire to allow kiosks to be set up at the rest and recreation areas to give more comfort to users of LPT 2.

According to statistics from the Royal Malaysian Police, 82 death cases on LPT 2 were recorded from the 1,989 accidents which occurred up to Oct 16. Three more deaths were reported on Oct 18 and 19.