KUCHING: A staggering 85 per cent of road accidents in Sarawak from January to October 2023 have been attributed to driver and motorcyclist carelessness, according to the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) of the Sarawak Contingent Police Headquarters.
The JSPT said that 28 per cent of these accidents were due to negligence leading to rear-end collisions. Speeding and self-skidding accounted for 24 per cent, while side collisions at intersections were responsible for 19 per cent. Other causes included collisions at 9 per cent and lane drifting at 5 per cent.
This data was disclosed to reporters during the Kuching Division-level Road Safety Awareness Campaign at the Petronas Sungai Maong Station today (Feb 2), officiated by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian.
The report also noted that a 10 per cent rise in road accidents statewide correlates with an increase in vehicle registrations.
Road Transport Department (RTD) Sarawak recorded 142,961 new vehicle registrations between 2020 and 2022. Additionally, 5 per cent of accidents were linked to road conditions, terrain, and weather.
In terms of vehicle involvement in accidents, cars led with 18,859 cases, followed by four-wheel drives (6,308), motorcycles (2,013), and others. Notably, there were 378 fatal accidents, resulting in 428 deaths—a rise from 344 accidents and 383 deaths in 2022.
Federal roads were the most common sites for fatal incidents.
The highest accident numbers were reported in Kuching (6,054 cases), followed by Miri, Sibu, and other major divisions, underlining the urgent need for heightened road safety measures across Sarawak.
