A 30kph speed limit to be gazetted at school zones, says Loke

SEREMBAN: A 30pkph speed limit will be gazetted at school zones nationwide and will be enforced soon, says Anthony Loke.

The Transport Minister said with an average 70 fatalities in school zones a year, there was a pressing need to reduce the speed limit in these areas.

He said the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion chaired by the deputy prime minister had agreed in principle to reduce the speed limit.

"The Road Safety Council will get this programme going at selected schools this year.

"We need to do this to ensure the safety of both the students as well as other road users," he said after chairing the 61st annual general meeting of the council here.

Loke said studies show that reducing the speed limit to 30kph can greatly reduce fatalities and serious injury to road users.

He said efforts should be made to put up signs, school crossings, speed breakers, road dividers and other safety equipment in school zones. Wardens will also be engaged.

Loke said the Public Works Department and local councils have been told the gazette the new speed limit.

"They have been notified. It is my hope that action is quickly taken to gazette the relevant laws," he said.

Loke said speed limits in school zones was a norm in many countries.

"This is actually the international standard. This was also one of the resolutions under the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety which we took part in previously, " he said.

He said he hoped motorists would not object to this as it was for the safety of students.