BENTONG: Don’t say you have not been warned! There will be more speed traps and traffic operations on the road.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he has asked police, the Road Transport Department and the Road Safety Department to enhance enforcement in a move to reduce accidents and deaths on the road.
“The drastic increase in road accidents and fatalities this festive season is abnormal and worrying,” he said at the Hari Raya open house by Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob here yesterday.
Police have said that the average fatality rate during Ops Selamat had gone up to 22 a day compared to 13 last year.
Liow said they would beef up operations and campaigns to raise public awareness.
“There are still a few days to go before traffic returns to its usual volume. We are doing all we can to save lives.
“We need your co-operation. We alone cannot achieve the results effectively,” he said.
Liow also warned the motorists to be extra alert.
“Drive slowly especially now when there is a huge increase of vehicles on the road,” he added.
He, however, noted that most motorists are aware but lack good attitude.
Liow hoped the new driving licence curriculum, which emphasises on safe and responsible driving, could help change drivers’ attitude and reduce accidents and fatalities.
Police statistics showed that there had been 12,383 accidents since Ops Selamat was launched on July 10.
Federal traffic chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff said police issued 123,190 summonses since the start of the operations.
There had been 203 fatalities in 76 accidents, most of them on federal roads, he said.
Meanwhile, three passengers were injured after an express bus hit a divider and landed in a ditch along the North-South Expressway near Rawang at 6.30am yesterday.
SAC Mohd Fuad said the accident occurred at KM436 of the highway, adding that it was raining heavily then.
