KENINGAU: Road accidents increased in the district last year with 27 cases or three percent, said Keningau police chief DSP Douglas Nyeging Taong.
He said the total number of accidents involving all types of vehicles last year were 728 cases against 701 cases in 2014.
“These cases occurred in Keningau, Tambunan, Sook and Nabawan and is a worrying trend if the people, especially road users, are not careful when driving their vehicles on the road,”he said yesterday.
Douglas added fatal accidents rose from 33 in 2014 to 38 cases last year while in 2014, there were 30 deaths from 30 cases which was an increase of three cases and eight fatalities or ten percent.
He said cases that resulted in serious injuries last year were 42 cases while there were only 25 cases in 2014 which was an increase of 17 cases or 68 per cent.
“For accidents that resulted in minor injuries, there was a decrease of nine cases or 18 per cent last year with 39 cases compared to 48 cases in 2014. Damage to vehicles from accidents also went up by 16 cases with 614 cases or two per cent last year compared with 598 cases in 2014,” he disclosed.
Douglas said that most accidents occurring here, Tambunan, Sook and Nabawan were attributable to human errors of either being drunk or sleepy.
He said the accident on the bridge over Senagang river two days ago where a car plunged into the river was due to negligence while driving.
According to Douglas, the driver of the vehicle was unhurt in the accident and did not make a police report but instead pulled his vehicle to Tenom.
He also said that the use of mobile phones while driving had contributed to several accidents.
“I would like to advise road users to comply with road regulations and to avoid activities that can cause accidents,”he said.
He said that while many programs were being held to reduce road accidents each year such as road safety, accidents continued to rise because of negligence. Drivers, he said, need to be more prudent and considerate when driving and to be more concerned with their own safety as well as other users.
Several warnings and advices have been issued by the traffic police for motorists to always be responsible and to remember their loved ones while driving.
“Before starting a journey, drivers should ensure their vehicles are in good condition, such as having a driver’s license, road tax, vehicle insurance and the brakes, signal lights and tires are in good working order,” he said.
Road users must ensure they do not drive when sleepy or drunk and to avoid using mobile phones while driving.
Douglas also advised road users to drive in a prudent manner, not to speed and overtake other vehicles unnecessarily unless it is safe to do so.