KUCHING: The number of accidents and deaths during the 10-day ‘Op Selamat 18’ held in conjunction with this year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri has increased compared to ‘Op Selamat 15’ in 2019.
Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata disclosed at a press conference that the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department recorded a total of 563 accident cases this year.
“This was an increase of 84 cases compared to 2019’s figure of 479 accident cases in ‘Op Selamat 15’.
“As for fatal accidents, 11 cases were recorded this year, an increase of four compared to 2019’s seven cases.
“Meanwhile, for casualties, the number also increased by five from seven deaths in 2019 to 12 deaths this year,” he told the media here on Monday (May 9).
He pointed out that the transition to the endemic phase as well as the relaxation of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) had resulted in the influx of vehicles on the road, which also contributed to an increase in accidents.
A study showed that motorcyclists were involved in most fatalities with nine out of 12 killed this year.
This was followed by two pedestrians and a motorist, who were killed during ‘Op Selamat 18’ this year.
Mancha added that among the causes of accidents were driver negligence in failing to control their vehicle, speeding which led to their vehicles skidding on its own, rear ending another vehicle, and overtaking other vehicles in unsafe conditions, which could lead to a fatal collision.
The statewide operation from April 29 to May 8, also carried out a total enforcement concept and focused on several main traffic offences.
Among the offences were speeding, cutting double line, disregarding the red light, driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal racing and all motorcycle-related offences.
“From there, the department issued a total of 10,251 summonses for various offences during ‘Op Selamat 18’.”
He revealed that police also focused on the ‘Rumah Selamat’ campaign and crime prevention in residential and urban areas.
“Throughout the operation, we did not receive any reports of burglaries. We received a total of 351 ‘balik kampung’ reports from the public who left their houses to celebrate Aidilfitri in their hometowns.
“These reports were obtained through the Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) app (284), through hotline calls (two) and filling out the form at the police station (65).”
