A traffic policeman issues a summons to an offender during ‘Op Selamat 11/2017’ in Kedah. — Bernama photo
SUNGAI PETANI: The number of road accidents in the first 11 days of ‘Op Selamat 11/2017’ from June 18 increased by 10 per cent over the corresponding period last year but the number of fatal accidents and deaths dropped by 17 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively, it was disclosed yesterday.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director SAC Sharul Othman Mansor said 17,147 road accidents were recorded nationwide in the 11 days, an increase of 1,620 over the 15,527 recorded last year.
However, the number of fatal accidents dropped by 36 to 172 from 208 last year, he said to reporters during a first-hand look at traffic personnel inspecting traffic in conjunction with the ‘Op Selamat 11/2017’ near here.
“The number of fatalities also decreased, by 48 to 185 compared to 233 for the same period last year,” he said.
The rise in the number of vehicles was among the factors contributing to the increase in accidents, he said, adding that an estimated 27 million registered vehicles were on the road nationwide.
“Most of the accidents took place on federal roads. In ‘Op Selamat’ we found that most of the accidents occurred two days before Aidilfitri,” he said.
Sharul Othman said accidents involving motorcycles were the highest in number, with 122 riders and pillion riders killed over the 11 days.
“But the number was 22 or 15 per cent smaller than the to 144 cases for the same period last year,” he said. — Bernama