SERIAN: Road accidents in the state decreased by 303 cases or 3.8 per cent from 1 January to 24 May this year compared to the same period last year.
The Department of Crime Prevention and Community Safety Head (Sarawak Contingent), SAC Shafie Ismail said 7,752 cases of road accidents were recorded from 1 January to 24 May this year compared to 8,055 cases for the same period last year.
“Meanwhile, fatal accidents dropped by 28 cases (17 percent) from 165 cases last year to 137 cases this year during the same period of time.
“In the same period, the number of serious accidents dropped from 68 cases last year to 67 cases this year,” he said.
Shafie was speaking at a press conference after launching the “Ops Selamat Sempena Perayaan Gawai Dayak” (Gawai Dayak Road Safety Campaign) here yesterday.
The road safety campaign which began on 26 May and ends on 4 June maintains the same theme as last year -”Rumah Selamat, Selamat Sampai Ke Destinasi”.
“If you look at the statistics of road accidents of “Ops Selamat Sempena Gawai Dayak” for last year, which was held for 15 days (25 May to 8 June) compared to the same period in the previous year, the total increased by 29 cases or 4.5 percent (from 646 cases in 2015 to 674 in 2016).
“However, the number of deaths recorded during “Ops Selamat Sempena Gawai Dayak” last year showed a slight drop from 17 cases in 2015 to 15 cases in 2016,” he explained.
Shafie pointed out that motorcyclists and pillion riders still topped the list of fatalities compared to other categories, with eight cases last year from four cases in 2015, an increase of 100 percent.
He warned truckers to avoid parking on road shoulders indiscriminately; such parking had caused fatal accidents in recent years.
“If the trucks are damaged or the tyres are punctured, the truckers must give clear signs from a proper distance, especially at night.
“Such actions will make other drivers aware of their presence,” he said.
Shafie added stern actions would be taken against truckers who parked on the shoulders of roads indiscriminately without proper instructions.
Also present during the launching of “Ops Selamat Sempena Perayaan Gawai Dayak” were the Department of Investigation and Traffic Enforcement Head (Sarawak Contingent), Supt. Mohamad Sar’ie Fauzi and Serian District Police chief, DSP Aswandy Anis.
