SIBU: Minister of Works Datuk Fadillah Yusof says that making the 15 black spots in Sarawak roads safer for road users would be among the focus under the upgrading of Pan Borneo trunk road works.
The agency is working out the details and the team will deliberate further with the state and other stakeholders on the project, Fadillah, who is Petra Jaya MP, told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He said this when asked if the ministry had any plan in the pipeline to carry out improvement works on these identified spots along the trunk road to better safeguard the safety of road users.
The state Road Safety Department (JKJR) director Davina Agnes Enteli reportedly told a press conference in Miri on Thursday that the 15 black spots were identified following frequent accidents, including fatal cases, on the particular stretches, out of which two were in Miri.
Davina reminded road users to exercise extra care when driving through the 15 identified black spots.
Meanwhile, the Pan Borneo trunk road is expected to be busy with celebrants and holidaymakers as the Gawai Dayak celebration is just around the corner.
Selangau MP Datuk Joseph Entulu in anticipating that the Selangau/Sibu road would be heavy with the ‘balik kampung’ crowds, reminded road users to take precautionary measures, including taking enough rest before making the long trip.
“Make frequent stopovers at designated places if one feels tired to take a break and freshen up,” said Entulu, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
He advised road users to keep to safe speed throughout the journey and reduce speed during poor visibility in bad weather.
“Always be on alert while on the road and take extra precautions when nearing accident-prone areas or black spots,” he pointed out.
State JKJR assistant director Redzuan Hamdan advised, “We would like to advise road users plying the Borneo trunk road to be extra careful and not to rush as impatience is one of the factors that can lead to accidents.
“As we all know Sarawak has no highways and we have not been able to construct enough overtaking lanes, it is very important for us to adapt our driving behaviour to the present condition,” he noted.
“Always mind our speed with the road condition and avoid overtaking at blind corners, when approaching hill slopes and at junctions,” he urged.