‘Accidents, and particularly street and highway accidents, do not happen – they are caused.’ – Ernest Greenwood, American author
I don’t think we should allow this to go on. We must put a stop to it. At times, you can’t help feeling that nobody cares anymore. Or do they?
I’m talking about the carnage on Sarawak roads. In recent months, the alarming increase in fatalities resulting from vehicle pile-ups on our roads and highways is a cause for concern.
Every other day, we would hear of another fatality on our roads. At times, there would be two deaths – either a motorcyclist and his pillion rider, two lorry attendants being crashed under the overturned vehicle they were travelling in or two teenagers being thrown off their car in a horrific highway crash.
The authorities must act to prevent more such tragedies from happening, and they must act fast. It has almost become a daily affair now.
These days, you don’t need to wait for the newspapers the next morning to hear the sad news. You can read about tragic road accidents and related obituaries, of mostly young people, on social media on the same day it happened.
The recent fatal accident at Jalan Teo Kui Seng in Kuching, which claimed five lives, serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of reckless driving. Five innocent lives were senselessly taken away just because a 16-year-old teenager decided to take to the road despite not being licensed.
Then, it was revealed that the particular stretch of the road was an accident-prone area which required motorists to drive with care.
Indeed, the recent spate of fatal accidents on Sarawak roads is deeply concerning. It looks like poor road conditions are one common cause of the accidents.
Yes, poor road conditions, including potholes, uneven surfaces, and inadequate lighting, can contribute to accidents. Other factors like reckless driving, speeding, and unpredictable weather may also play a role.
We want our local authorities to take more drastic steps to improve road safety. There should be stricter enforcement of traffic laws and better maintenance of roads to prevent further tragedies.
Well, I was glad to hear Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin stressing the need for unwavering efforts to reduce traffic accidents and save lives.
Speaking at a road safety campaign on Jan 20 in Miri, he said: “Every statistic represents a life affected, a family impacted. Our commitment to raising road safety awareness remains steadfast as we strive to make our roads safer for everyone”.
I must also note with appreciation the minister’s reference to the horrific accident in Jalan Datuk Teo Kui Seng in Kuching when he called for stricter adherence to traffic laws, noting the need for all drivers to prioritise safety.
“It is illegal for individuals below the minimum driving age to operate a vehicle. Parents and guardians must ensure that unlicensed individuals do not drive. This is essential for their safety and the safety of all road users,” Lee stressed.
Well said, Sir. Parents must heed the minister’s advice as it’s a matter of life and death. A vehicle can be a lethal machine if not handled properly.
The authorities concerned also have to act swiftly by improving road maintenance, enforcing traffic laws and implementing stricter safety measures.
A comprehensive audit of accident-prone areas could help identify and address the most dangerous road conditions. Public awareness campaigns on safe driving, better street lighting, road signage, and speed enforcement could also make a difference.
It may be of interest to note that the Sarawak Police Headquarters Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) attributed 95 per cent of accidents to driver negligence and carelessness.
Specific causes included rear-end collisions (32.4%), speeding and losing control (21.5%), side collisions at intersections (21.5%), head-on collisions (4.5%); sideswipes (5.5%) and other causes (9.6%).
An increase in the number of vehicles on the road accounted for 3 per cent of incidents, while weather conditions, road infrastructure, and challenging terrain contributed 2 per cent.
At the national level, road fatality statistics remain concerning. In an effort to increase awareness of the growing number of road deaths, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that the police will start sharing daily data on nationwide accident numbers soon.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament in March last year, he said the decision was made at a cabinet committee meeting on road safety and traffic.
“In 2023, 6,643 people died in road accidents – the highest number in five years.
“From the figure, 4,480 were motorcyclists, an average of 12 deaths a day, or one death in every two hours,” he said.
Loke said he highlighted in the meeting that the death toll from road accidents last year was even higher than the average daily COVID-19 deaths during the pandemic.
“This is a very serious number. Road accident statistics are released once a year.
“That does not provide a picture that can raise public concern,” he said.
He said a decision was made for police to compile real-time data on daily accidents nationwide and release it in a similar way to how COVID-19 infections and deaths were reported in the past.
Let us all be mindful of one important factor – preventing road accidents is a shared responsibility between citizens and the authorities. Only then will we achieve a win-win situation.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
