355 fatal accidents recorded along Pan Borneo in 6 months

KUCHING: A total of 355 fatal accidents have been recorded along the Pan Borneo Highway from January to June this year.
 
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the number recorded is quite high and concerning as it involves the loss of lives.
 
He pointed out that the loss of lives not only affects family members but also represents a significant loss for the nation.
 
“As such, there is urgency to have awareness programmes like the Pan Borneo Sarawak Safety Advocation Roadshow programme, as it is crucial in providing exposure and knowledge to the public regarding the use of this highway,” he said at the launch of the programme at Dewan Baitulmal today (July 15).
 
Fadillah, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said these accidents are caused by various factors, including the unfamiliarity among the people with the new road conditions as the Pan Borneo Highway is the first of its kind in Sarawak.
 
“If we look at it, this four-lane and dual carriageway is still new to the local community. The use of the P-turn junction instead of the usual U-turn also adds to the unfamiliarity.
 
“Highways are built with the aim of seamless driving; unfortunately, this leads to some drivers having the tendency to drive fast and exceed the speed limit, thus contributing to the risks of accidents,” he said.
 
At the same time, Fadillah said the advocacy programme can help prevent such accidents from occurring in the future.
 
“Everyone needs to be exposed to this information so that we can collectively avoid the high numbers of accidents,” he said.
 
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Aidel Lariwoo, Sarawak deputy police commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata, and others.