KOTA KINABALU: The police will be conducting Ops Selamat at Jalan Kepayan, Jalan Lintas and Jalan Tuaran Bypass here from May 28 to June 8 in conjunction with the Harvest Festival.
City police chief ACP Jauteh Dikun said the focus on the three main roads was because fatal accidents had occurred there in the first five months this year.
From May 28 to June 8 last year, 237 road accidents were reported, including a fatal case, five cases with serious injuries, seven with minor injuries and 224 with only damages. A total of 3,038 summonses were also issued during that period last year, he said.
Jauteh said the enforcement of the Ops Selamat, launched only in Sabah during the Harvest Festival, would focus on six offences — road accidents, exceeding the speed limit, failure to observe the traffic lights, crossing double lines, jumping queue and abusing emergency lanes.
“At the same time, we will carry out random inspections on motorists to nab those who are driving under the influence of alcohol that exceeds the limits specified,”he said at a press conference after launching the Ops Selamat, a collaborative effort with the Sabah Road Safety Department (JKJR) at Likas Bay here yesterday.
Jauteh pointed out that drinking itself is not an offence but there must be a limit because too much alcohol could endanger the drinkers and other road users.
“We understand that a lot of drinking during the Harvest Festival involves alcohol, but we hope that drivers will practise responsible drinking.”
“We hope there will be no accidents with serious injuries this year, not only in Kota Kinabalu, but in the whole country as well,”he added.
Jauteh also said the Ops Selamat would also be extended to ensure the security of residential houses with police patrols to be stepped up during the festive season.
Also present were city deputy police chief Superintendent M. Chandra and Sabah JKJR director Herdiansah Abdul Karim.