Saripuddin (front, third right) and Azharuddin (right), together with (front, from left) Baharin, Rosli and Wan Ahmad Uzir in a group photo with 20 motorcyclists who received their Sirim-certified helmets.

MIRI: The Transport Ministry aims to reduce the number of road accidents to 2.5 per cent this year, down from 2.7 per cent recorded last year.

Ministry of Transport secretary-general Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kasim pointed this out during a road safety awareness programme with the local community at Masjid Darul Hana in Kampung Tunku Abdul Rahman here yesterday.

“We have 18 million active registered vehicles throughout the country and last year, road deaths were 2.7 per cent for every 10,000 vehicles.

“We hope to reduce this to 2.5 per cent this year and reach the target of 2.2 per cent by 2020. European countries like Germany and England target zero road fatality.

“In Asean, Malaysia is ranked third for road accidents after Thailand and Vietnam,” he said.

Saripuddin said Miri was selected for the awareness programme as it shares the borders with Brunei and the number of vehicles travelling to and from Miri is high.

He added that road safety must be emphasised, in that many accidents are caused by negligence.

From January to July this year, Miri recorded 2,126 road accidents with 25 deaths, four serious injuries, 23 light injuries and 2,074 non-injuries. Overall traffic fatalities in Malaysia stood at an alarming 7,157 last year.

“Sarawak recorded 11,670 accidents involving vehicles in 2016, with 268 fatalities and 141 cases of serious injuries. Thus, it is important for all road users to practise safe driving to reduce the number of accidents.

“I ask everyone to be more careful, wear safety helmets certified by Sirim, make sure that the road tax for your vehicles are up to date and please, obey the law,” Saripuddin added.

There were many activities yesterday including exhibitions by various agencies, talks on motorcycle safety by Miri Road Transport Department (JPJ) assistant enforcement officer Abu Bakar Kalong, road safety tips by Sarawak Shell Bhd road transport operations coordinator and social performance Hamzani Abdullah, and a talk on ‘Road Safety – A Joint Responsibility’ by Ideris Taril from the state Road Safety Department (JKJR).

Transport Ministry Association of Wives of Civil Servants and Women Civil Servants (Puspanita) patron Datin Sabariah Tokimin later presented donations to 13 individuals comprising those with special needs, orphans and senior citizens from Lambir.

Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, Marine Department (JLM) director-general Datuk Baharin Abdul Hamid, JKJR director-general Datuk Rosli Isa, JPJ deputy director-general (management) Datuk Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman, Miri Resident’s Office representative Majenah Lass and Miri District Office representative Sharifah Rafidah Wan Razali were present at the event.