BINTULU: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will begin an integrated operation called ‘Drive Carefully, Arrive Safely’ with the National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA) from Jan 18 to 27 in conjunction with the coming Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration.
Sarawak JPJ deputy director Erick Jusiang said the operation would focus on education and advocacy, enforcement, prevention and monitoring as well as evaluation.
Throughout that period, JPJ officers will carry out enforcement activities such as conducting patrols in ‘hot’ areas, bus terminals, along main roads and posing as bus passengers.
He said goods vehicles were prohibited from travelling on the road during the festive season and the ban would start two days before the CNY (Jan 20 and 21) and two days after (Jan 24 and 25).
“This aims to minimise the risk of road accidents due to the mixed flow of traffic between heavy and light vehicles.
“It is also to prevent traffic congestion as a lot of people are expected to drive back to their respective villages during this period,” he said when met after inspecting express buses at Bintulu Sentral Bus Terminal on Thursday (Jan 19).
For the record, a pre-CNY operation was carried out from Jan 14 to 17 with enforcement officers assigned to inspect express buses at 11 depots and four bus terminals in Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu.
Inspections are focused on bus operators to ensure that they comply with bus tyre standards and ensure that brakes and lights are all in good condition as well as inspecting outstanding summonses involving drivers and bus operators.
“We are also working with NADA officers who will conduct urine tests on bus drivers before they are allowed to drive to their respective destinations.”
On the fatal road accident cases in 2022, Erick said the state recorded an increase of 10.7 per cent, which is 341 cases, compared to 308 cases in 2021.
The death rate also increased by 12.7 per cent from 339 cases in 2021 to 382 cases last year.
