Masing helps a child to put on a helmet when officiating at the state-level Gawai Dayak Road Safety Safety Advocacy 2016 programme. Seen at third left is Davina. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Sarawak registers on average one road accident fatality per day compared to the national average of 19 deaths per day.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, however, said the state was targeting to achieve zero fatality rate despite the ‘well below the national average’ report.
“Road safety is of utmost concern to us. Motorcyclists and pillion riders still register the highest fatality rate,” he told reporters after officiating at the state-level Gawai Dayak Road Safety Safety Advocacy 2016 programme at a petrol station along Kota Samarahan Expressway, here, yesterday.
Masing, who is also Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation, attributed the low road accident fatality rate in the state to the government’s initiatives through various road safety programmes such as festive road safety advocacy programme to create road safety awareness among road users.
Since many people would be on the road in the next few weeks in conjunction with Gawai Dayak, he advised motorists and their passengers to ensure that they buckled up.
“Since 2009, there is a requirement for passengers at the back to also use seat belts. Therefore, I would like to advise everyone to use seat belt as it can save lives.”
Apart from using approved helmets, Masing also advised motorcyclists and pillion riders to wear luminous attires to ensure they were visible to other road users.
“Enjoy the Gawai festivity but do not drive when you’re drunk. Stay in the house and sleep until you’re sober then you drive.”
As for river transportation, Masing said his ministry, together with other authorities such as Sarawak Rivers Board would look into how best safety measures could be implemented for the safety of passengers.
“One of the most important criteria is to make sure that the passengers put on life jackets when they are using express boats or speed boats.”
Meanwhile, the state Road Safety Department (JKJR) said Kota Samarahan Expressway was selected for the state-level Road Safety Advocacy Programme this time because it was a busy road and was commonly used by motorists to go back to their villages to celebrate Gawai.
JKJR would like to remind road users to identify those high risk roads that are accident prone and ensure that they are always alert when driving during the unpredicted weather. Motorists should also be more patient and considerate while on the road.
“Besides early planning, road users should also take into consideration the duration of their journey, traffic situation throughout the journey, and road and car conditions before starting a journey.”
JKJR also would like to advise road users to be more concerned with factors that could contribute to fatal road accidents.
“Certain roads in Kota Samarahan do not have suitable overtaking lanes and this may pose serious risk to road users who want to overtake other vehicles over a short distance.”
Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation Safri Zainuddin and state JKJR director Davina Agnes Enteli were also present at the event yesterday.