THE latest announcement by Transport Minister Anthony Loke that there would be no more road safety events launching during the festive season ‘balik kampung’ travel period implies that campaigns and communications to save lives on the road over the years had been a failure.
It wasn’t something new that road safety events during festive seasons in the past were merely an academic and repeated approach with no target reduction percentage for road fatalities and road crashes nationwide set by the ministry and enforcement agencies.
It has been the same mundane approach every year and the government was expecting different results.
It was obvious in the last 10 years the Transport Ministry was not able to ensure a good outcome of a road safety campaign.
For many years, the road safety events at the rest and relax (R&R) areas on the highway or other locations were merely a festival for agencies involved, with precious man hours and taxpayers money utilised without a positive outcome.
The road safety events held at least twice a year – around Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri – were more of a show for the guests rather than reaching out to the real target audience.
More often, the national-level events during festive seasons were not felt by motorcycle users, which accounted as the biggest group with highest road deaths on a daily basis including during the ‘balik kampung’ travel period.
The Alliance for a Safe Community is deeply concerned that 2023 road deaths recorded 6,433 lives lost, the highest in the last five years, higher than the 2018 road deaths statistics of 6,284.
In fact, the increase of 7% road deaths last year as compared to the 2022 death statistics was a clear indication that the commitment, focus and willingness of the federal government to reduce and curb the road carnage had failed.
Instead of intensifying and escalating communications and reminding road users to be responsible and mindful including reminding parents to young motorcyclists group, we notice that the endeavours by the government have been subdued and inconsistent.
It is noted that since the dissolution of the Road Safety Department (JKJR), which was absorbed into Road Transport Department (JPJ) four years ago, advocacy had been further diminished. There was also a question mark on how JPJ can perform a double role as a road safety advocate and law enforcement agency.
At the current rate, it looks like Malaysia won’t reach the ’50 by 30’ goal, a target set by the United Nations and adopted by the Transport Ministry to reduce road traffic fatalities by 50% by 2030 and beyond.
The Alliance For A Safe Community is calling for:
1) Sound political will by the government on overall road safety measures to reduce road crashes and curb the high number of fatalities throughout the year by communicating effectively and raising awareness to the masses via enforcement, education and engagement with stakeholders.
2) Transport Ministry to rethink the communications steps and campaign messages on road safety advocacy and awareness via Road Transport Department (JPJ) alongside Royal Malaysia Police.
3) Transport Ministry to conduct consistent and serious communication throughout the year at all levels with relevant stakeholders as outlined in the National Road Safety Plan 2022-2030.
4) Transport Ministry to be proactive and refresh its communication effort all year long to the masses by utilising mainstream and alternative media including social media.
5) Transport Ministry to request cooperation from all agencies, ministries and GLCs to undertake safety steps for their workforce including wearing rear seat belts and safety helmets during commuting hours.
6) Transport Ministry and JPJ to be transparent on demerit point Kejara statistics.
7) JPJ and Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) work together with Royal Malaysia Police to provide road crashes and fatalities data on monthly or quarterly basis to the media instead of just yearly road crashes data.
8) Transport Ministry to embark on a fresh communication and outreach programme to tackle the high number of crashes and deaths among motorcyclists especially school kids, teenagers and young adults.
9) An all year long unique communication approach and consistent outreach programme with the motorcyclists group especially the youngsters must be implemented.
10) A special communication task force team for each of the top 5 worst districts in Malaysia which recorded the highest annual road deaths should be set up.
11) Transformation of the role and function of the Road Safety Council to become the focal point of communications in every state.
12) To engage local communities, especially the parents of young motorcyclists via a consistent outreach programme.
Hence, it is our fervent hope that the government would recapture its commitment and focus on saving lives on the road with a clear communication plan throughout the year. – January 14, 2024
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye is chairman of The Alliance for a Safe Community