Muhammad Faiz bin Selamat

KEM1100356

Vehicles Transportation and Road

Safety Awareness in Malaysia
Road safety scenario in Malaysia in 2013 recorded 477204 number of road crashed involving all type
of transportation with 6915 fatalities. That was about 19 death per day; about a death per hour.
Moreover, the fatality index per 10000 registered vehicle was 2.90. Even though it is lower compared
to 2004 with 4.51 fatalities per 10000 vehicle, it can be considered high if compared with advanced
countries like United Kingdom, Sweden and Australia where the fatality index is below 2.0.

Type of Road User

Motorist
Motorcyclist
Pedestrian
Bicyclist
Bus
Lorry
Other Vehicle Users
Total

2013
1399
4294
455
159
60
210
338
6915
Table 1: Road Traffic Fatalities in Malaysia

From Table 1, the most casualties was motorcyclist, which makes up about 60%
of all fatalities. Road crashes also cost the nation about RM9.0 billion annually. To
conclude, Malaysia did aware about road safety. By the main objective to reduce
the projected deaths due to road accidents in 2020 by 50%, 5 strategic pillars is
suggested by government (Ministry of Transport, Road Safety Department &
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, MIROS) in Road Safety Plan of
Malaysia 2014-2020 which are:

Road Safety Management

Safer Mobility and Roads
Safer Vehicles
Safer Road Users
Post-Crash Management

1. Road Safety Management

Many programmes implemented to create awareness about road safety among
Malaysian. Besides, Malaysian also being encouraged to use public transport
more than using own transport. This is based on statistic that public transport
risk less in the road accident. Not to forget, the road safely legislation is reviewed
and enhanced continuously so that it is relevant with current state and goals to
reduce casualties. Local community programmes are held with cooperation with
inter-agency, media and non-government organisation to approach public and
create awareness.
2. Safer mobility and roads

Muhammad Faiz bin Selamat

KEM1100356

It is stressed that mobility is not only about accessibility but more importantly
about road safety. The road safety will be incorporated at the planning design
stage of all the construction of all road infrastructures as below:
Safer Mobility
and Roads

Reduction in
Speed

Risk
Reduction for
Motorcyclist

Risk
Reduction for
Pedestrians

Reduction in
Red Light
Running

Risk
Reduction for
Car
Occupants

Figure 1: Safer Mobility and Roads

Some of programmes yet to be implemented include the road side barrier safety
programmes, Standards and regulations evaluation programmes and road safety
audit programmes.
3. Safer Vehicles
For safer vehicles, the main focus will be on the improvement to vehicle safety
technologies for passive and active safety. This will be pursued through a
combination of harmonisation with relevant global standards, consumer
information schemes and incentives to accelerate the adoption of new
technologies to improve road vehicle safety. This will be supported by a
comprehensive roadmap on implementation of United Nation, UN Regulation on
vehicle safety standards.
cle

Safer Vehicles

Reduction in Speed

Installing speed
monitoring gadgets
in vehicles

Risk Reduction for

Motorcyclist

improvement in
public transport
safety

Improvement in
vehicle safety
standards

improvement in
crashworthiness
requirements for
new vehicles
improvement in
roadworthiness for
existing vehicles

Figure 2: Safer Vehicles

Besides, some programmes to be implemented for safer vehicles including

Implementation of UN Regulation through the Vehicle Type Approval, VTA and
Vehicle safety performance evaluation programmes.
4. Safer Road Users
Safer road user is actually related to behaviour of road user, thus this 4 th
strategic pillar deals with improving road user behaviour. In order to disciplines
road user, comprehensive programmes are proposed. It is intended to increase
enforcement of laws and standards, increase public awareness and education

Muhammad Faiz bin Selamat

KEM1100356

programmes to nurture a road safety culture among the public. Into that, public
education and awareness programmes through media is conducted, stricter
punishment and community service for traffic offender could be implemented.
Safer Road

Reduction in
Speed

Risk
Reduction for
Motorcyclist

risk reduction
for
pedestrians

increase in
helmet
wearing

better
trained driver

better
community
involvement

better
community
involvement

better
trained driver

Reduction in
Red Light
Running

risk reduction
for car
occupants

better
trained driver

better
trained driver

increase
seatbelt
wearing
better
community
involvement
better
trained driver

Figure 3: Safer Road

5. Post-crash Management
In post-crash management, the focus is to improve the responsiveness to postcrash emergencies and services. The main thrust will be on health mitigation and
other systems needed to provide appropriate emergency treatment and longer
rehabilitation for crash victims. This including first responder to community
programme and improvement of emergency response time.
Post-crash
Management

Risk Reduction
for Motorcyclist

improved
emergency
response
operation

Risk Reduction
for Pedestrians

improved
emergency
response
operation

Risk Reduction
for Car
Occupants

improved
emergency
response
operation

Figure 4: Post-crash Management

It is not that simple to create awareness on road safety to public. Integrated

efforts are needed by various government agencies, private companies, NGOs
and the most important is the road user themselves. This plan is a vital step in
making our roads better and safer for us all. Together we can make differences.

References

Road accident fatalities down in 2013, july 2014, retrieved from

http://english.astroawani.com/malaysia-news/road-accident-fatalitiesdown-2013-39432