KUCHING: As of June 2017, a total of 8977 road accidents have occurred in the state, a decrease of six per cent (9034 cases) from the same period of time last year.
From this number, 162 were fatal cases which caused the death of 177 individuals, a decrease of 24 individuals from the same time frame last year.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of Kuching Bicycle Motor Traders Association, Lau Soon Yiun in his speech during the YAMAHA-Kuching Road Safety Campaign held at Kuching Sentral, yesterday.
He continued on saying that even with decreasing trend, those who mostly involved in road accidents are motorcyclist and car rear passengers.
“This does not necessarily mean it is totally their fault. Through researches and analysis, there are six main causes of road accidents which are driving above speed limit, crossing double lines, hitting the traffic lights, abuse of emergency lanes, cutting off lines and motorcyclists not wearing any helmet.
“In Sarawak, there are a total of 15 areas which are identified as accident prone areas where many of them are located at the southern division of Sarawak,” said Lau.
Gracing the campaign was the Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Professor Dr. Sim Kui Hian.
In his speech, he told that the current infrastructure of the state promoted its people to use private transportation instead of the public mode of transportation.
“Many of those involved in these accidents, they are our younger generation. We cannot lose them this way; they are our future hopes.
“Therefore, I would like to thank the private sector, to actually take matters into their own hands to promote road safety to the public,” said Sim.
During the campaign, many motorcyclists were given new helmets and rain jackets as well as 7-point motorcycle check up, to ensure that their vehicles are still in good condition to be used on the road.
The 7-point check-up includes brakes, engine oil, motorcyle chain, signal lights, tyres, rear mirrors and honk.
