KUALA LUMPUR – In 2023, Malaysia incurred a loss of over RM25 billion due to road accidents, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke (Seremban-PH).
Loke explained that the amount of losses can be assessed based on the number of deaths and serious injuries reported by police.
The values of statistical life and serious injury are estimated using a method developed by the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) according to GDP per capita, he added.
“According to statistics as well as the iRAP method, our nation lost almost RM18 billion in 2010, equivalent to 2.2% of the country’s GDP.
“(It) increased to over RM25 billion in 2023, (equivalent to) 1.4% of GDP,” he said in a parliamentary written reply yesterday.
He was responding to a question from Pang Hok Liong (Labis-PH) on the amount of losses incurred due to road accidents from 2010 to 2023, and steps taken by the ministry to curb this issue.
Loke said the ministry developed the Malaysia Road Safety Plan 2022-2030, which aims to halve the number of deaths from road accidents by 2030, in line with United Nations Resolution 74/299 on road safety.
This includes amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 to improve the enforcement of road rules, such as the offence of driving under the influence (DUI) in 2020.
Meanwhile, Loke said that his ministry is collaborating with the Works Ministry to examine proposals to set minimum speed limits in school areas.
At the same time, the collaboration has seen the completion of AwAS speed-trap cameras in both directions of the Menora Tunnel at the PLUS Highway. – July 11, 2024
