THE Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) has urged the Ministry of Transport to implement stricter safety measures nationwide to reduce road crashes during the Chinese New Year celebrations.
"Recently, there has been a concerning increase in road accidents involving heavy vehicles. In 2024 alone, there were 825 fatal accidents involving such vehicles in just 10 months.
"It is crucial to recognise that road crashes and fatalities are not accidents. When we refer to them as "accidents," we imply that they are unavoidable, which perpetuates a culture of acceptance.
"This mindset suggests that nothing can be done to prevent them. However, road crashes are the result of poor transport policies, inadequate road designs, faulty vehicles, bad urban planning, insufficient enforcement, and, ultimately, a lack of political will to enforce strong measures to curb crashes," said CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader.
He said that in many cases, entire families have been tragically wiped out, yet most of us remain largely indifferent, ignoring the suffering of others.
"What have the agencies and policymakers done? They have treated the issue too lightly, allowing the carnage to continue unchecked," he said.
He said factors such as speed, poor driving habits, the attitude of motorists, congested roads, inadequate road conditions, and weak enforcement have all contributed to the high number of accidents in Malaysia.
Although road safety is everyone's responsibility, Mohideen said the government must take the lead in addressing this issue. Clearly, the authorities have taken too long to study, plan, and implement necessary measures.
"CAP urges policymakers and agencies to prioritise road safety and give it the highest possible attention. Public transport should also be encouraged as part of a broader strategy to reduce human suffering and prevent further tragedies," he added. - January 27, 2025
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