TOO LITTLE TOO LATE: Review of speed limits under AES system

IMPROVED- More warning signboards to be put up, public feedback sought

KUALA LUMPUR- THE Automated Enforcement System will be improved, with more warning signboards put up, a planned review of speed limits, and public feedback sought.

The Road Safety Department will go on a nationwide tour soon to get public feedback on improving the AES. But first, additional signboards will be placed to warn motorists of the location of AES cameras because of complaints that the current signboards are not visible. A review of the speed limits for stretches of roads where AES cameras are installed is also being considered.

Road Safety Department director-general Leslie Leon told the New Sunday Times that the department was studying how public consultation was implemented in other countries.

Speed limits are set in consultation with the public in many parts of the world, including the United Kingdom and Australia. The process allows residents and stakeholders to have a say in what speed limits should be in a particular area. In addition to being more inclusive, it allows better adherence since the community itself is engaged in the setting of speed limits.

Leon reiterated the AES cameras were not positioned to catch motorists off guard or to "ambush" them.

"The AES cameras are not supposed to be hidden. There will be sufficient warning. Currently, the signboards are already there. We will also add another additional signboard (to each AES camera).

"However, it will take some time because we need permission from the (local) authorities (who administer the stretch of road) before the signboards are set up."

Leon said the AES system was necessary to control accident rates.

"Every year, there are a million new vehicles registered on the road, as well as half a million new drivers. There were 363,319 accidents in 2007. In 2011, this figure increased to 449,040. That's an increase of 23.6 per cent."

Leon said human error was to blame in 85.74 per cent of the cases.

"Environmental factors like roads account for 10.62 per cent while vehicular factors, such as faulty brakes and tyres, account for only 3.64 per cent of cases."

Leon said the department was continually striving to bring down the accident rate since it was established in 2005.

"We aim to lower the rate to two deaths per 10,000 registered vehicles by 2020. Last year, it was at 3.2 per 10,000 vehicles.".

He added that given time, the rate would be comparable to a developed nation.

Leon said nearly 90 countries had adopted the AES and it has helped reduce the number of accidents in these countries."

According to former Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) director-general Prof Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi, about 85 per cent of the public abide traffic laws.

AES aims to change the behaviour of the remaining 15 per cent by creating a "perception of being caught".

"It's working. According to some reports , people are already slowing down," he said.

Leon said since the system relied on machines instead of people for enforcement, it was more effective.

"For many, these are just statistics. But for the families of road accident victims, it is the worst thing on earth. Speeding can cause accidents. The nature of accidents is when it happens, it might only happen once."

Leon said the AES could be considered a landmark move by the department.

"Enforcement and education must go hand in hand."

He said the AES system was a way of changing the behaviour of these errant road users. He acknowledged that it was an unpopular move with the public.

"Is there any enforcement measure that is popular? When people get killed, the people start blaming the government. The public will ask us, what is the government doing? AES is not done to be popular, but to save lives."

Miros director-general Associate Professor Dr Wong Shaw Voon said public consultation to set speed limits was a positive move to get the public to be more engaged with road safety efforts.

"This will enable the community to understand why certain limits are set."

- New Straits Times