Lorry, heavy vehicle operators urged to stop operations prior to Hari Raya

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KUCHING: Operators of lorries and other heavy vehicles are urged to halt or slow down operations in the days prior to the upcoming Hari Raya celebration to help reduce traffic congestion caused by those travelling home by road.

Road Safety Department state director Rano Aylwino Akat said yesterday that traffic on the roads will be four times higher than usual, increasing the probability of accidents.

“With more vehicles on the road, the tendency for road users to overtake dangerously will be very high and of course, risk of accident is also very high,” he said during the Samarahan leg of
the Hari Raya road safety campaign.

Many head-on collisions are a result of dangerous overtaking by people who cannot wait, he added.

“I urge people to plan their journey properly. Don’t rush home today so you can celebrate tomorrow. Take extra days off if that’s what it takes for you to drive carefully and sensibly,” he said.

Rano also urged road users not to overload their vehicles.

“When you overload, the speed of your car will be reduced. When you overtake, you will be slower and this can also contribute to a head-on collision,” he said.

“A Kancil seats four people, not seven people and one cake,” he added.

Rano added that places like Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu tend to rake up a high number of accidents but this is a reflection of the increasing number of road users every year.

“We have 30,000 new road users, for cars and motorbikes, obtaining their licences every year. The number of cars on the road is increasing with the number of drivers of between 40,000 to 50,000 new registered cars. Of course, the risk of accidents will go up as well,” he stated.

The government’s objective is to reduce the number of cases of death and serious injury, Rano said.

In Sarawak last year, there were 378 deaths, with an average of one death a day. Nationwide last year, 6,872 deaths were registered or a daily average of 18 a day.

“At the end of the day, the road users themselves are the ones to decide whether or not they are safe on the road,” Rano said.

Also present to hand out safety brochures and new helmets to selected motorcyclists was Samarahan Resident Ismail Mohd Hanis.