KUCHING: Dual carriageway too expensive, federal govt mulls overtaking lanes instead — Manyin.
The federal government has instructed Sarawak Public Works Department to evaluate the proposal to build 95 overtaking lanes on the state’s trunk road between Kuching and Miri.
Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin said the proposal, submitted last year, had put the total cost at RM400 million.
“There is a possibility (for the proposal to be approved),” he told a press conference after officiating at the state-level Road Safety Education Programme for National Service (NS) trainees here yesterday.
“I think RM400 million is nothing (not a big amount) to (the) federal (government).”
He said the figure proposed was just a fraction to the estimated RM16 billion needed to upgrade the present over 900km two-way trunk road to a dual-carriageway.
“If we can get (the fund for the overtaking lanes construction) approved even in stages, a lot of lives can be saved along the trunk road,” he said.
Earlier Manyn said a study would be conducted on the effects of Road Safety Education (RSE) programme for those who have undergone the National Service training programme.
The RSE programme, which employs the 5E (education, engineering, enforcement, environment and evaluation) approach to reduce fatalities and injuries due to road accidents, was first introduced to NS trainees in Sarawak in 2007.
“Once we have the fund, we will start the study on the effects of the programme, such as the number participants involved in accidents compared to those who have never undergo the programme,”
He said Shell had promised to come up with some money to conduct a study on the results of their existing Shell Traffic Games and the RSE programme.
“We need RM1 million to RM2 million which would be channelled to an institution of higher learning as it has the relevant skills and expertise to conduct such a study,” he said.
According to statistics from the Road Safety Department, a total of 35,200 NS participants took part in the RSE programme between 2007 and 2011 in the state’s eight NS camps.
During their three months’ training, the participants have to undergo a comprehensive eight-hour module conducted by certified trainers from the department, Shell and Puspakom.
“We hope that with this education programme, we will be able to see an improvement in the attitude and discipline of future road users.
“Our focus in on the NS participants because on completion of their training they will start to learn to drive or ride motorcycle. So it is important to educate them on road safety,” Manyin said.
He said statistics had shown that 65 percent of road accidents in the country were caused by human factors, not the conditions of roads or vehicles. It also showed that an average 18 deaths in Peninsular Malaysia and 1.2 deaths in Sarawak per day were recorded due to road accident.
“Despite the good road network in Peninsular Malaysia with motorways comparable with those in other parts of the world, the fatality rate is still higher than in Sarawak.
“It shows that the drivers could be ignorant, undisciplined, not well-trained or that they do not plan their journey well.
“That is why we need to focus on human factor by inculcating the habit of being polite and disciplined on the roads. This can be done through education and training.
“The main aim of the programme is to reduce accidents and save lives,” he said.
The RSE programme will also be introduced to secondary schools next year.
Also present at the press conference were JKJR state director Rano Alwino Akat and NS South Kuching zone director Lt Col Abdul Rahamen Wok.