KUALA LUMPUR – The United Nations (UN) has called on Malaysia to provide a strong commitment to road safety similar to its dedication in combating Covid-19.
In a New Year message, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy for road safety Datuk Seri Jean Todt hoped Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the federal government would spread more awareness and engage in more communication to address the staggering number of road deaths and injuries in the country, in the same way as battling the coronavirus.
“To reduce the high rate of crashes and road deaths, Malaysia needs more discipline, strict law enforcement, and more education. We have a great example when the planet was under threat from Covid-19 in the past three years,” he told The Vibes in an exclusive interview.
As Malaysia braces for a possible fourth wave of Covid-19, with the government implementing serious measures against its spread in the past 34 months, Todt highlighted the norm involving members of the public wearing face masks.
“This is a great example, everybody around the planet has been wearing the (face) mask,” he said. “You know why, because there was a lot of education, a lot of regulation and people were scared to be (infected with) Covid-19.”
“Millions of people have died on the road and road safety should be (viewed) in the same light as Covid-19.
“Road safety is exactly the same where you need people to feel about the big threat around them on the road, which is very often realised too late … by educating people, you will be able to make the difference,” said Todt, who is one of the founders of L’Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, which is devoted to medical research for brain and spinal cord disorders.
A total 168,659 road deaths and more than a million injuries have been caused by road crashes in Malaysia since 1995. This is an average of 6,486 lives lost annually or 19 killed every day.
As of August 2021 in Malaysia, of every 100 road deaths, 70 were motorcycle users.
Road injuries are now the leading cause of deaths globally for children and young people, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The UN agency estimates that about 1.35 million deaths are recorded annually around the world each year or 3,700 people killed every day on the roads globally. Another 50 million people are seriously injured in crashes each year, with many left crippled and unable to work.
Three years ago, at the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Stockholm, WHO director for Social Determinant of Health Dr Etienne Krug, in a special session with international journalists including Malaysians, had stated that the attention given by governments to the coronavirus was a testament to the fact that governments could provide focus on a serious issue when they have the will.
“The response to the coronavirus outbreak shows that with the right political will, strong measures can be put in place quickly. These numbers call for strong levels of political action as well,” Dr Krug was quoted in a report by CNN.
Dr Krug had opined that road users’ behaviour could be improved with the consistent traffic law enforcement.
“There is a lot that can be done to improve road safety, we have to work on infrastructure, vehicles and people’s behaviour. Good legislation on speeding, drinking and driving, using seat belts or motorcycle helmets is extremely important, and it has to be enforced and people should be informed,” he had explained.
Meanwhile, similarly for Malaysia, Todt said, the government should make road safety a top agenda and work towards giving citizens more access to a strong public transport system.
The former supremo of Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile explained that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 11.2 outlined that all citizens will have access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems by 2030 by expanding public transport.
“A quality public transport service and network is also part of the SDG 11.2. It is a government responsibility, public sector and any road users’ responsibility. If you are responsible, you will avoid a lot of victims,” said Todt, who has personally lost friends in road accidents. – The Vibes, January 9, 2023
