58 deaths recorded during four days of Op Selamat 19

 

Traffic situation at the North South Expressway near Rawang on Jan 21, during the Chinese New Year holidays. -NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 58 deaths were recorded from 52 fatal road accidents around the country throughout the enforcement of 'Op Selamat 19', which entered its fourth day today.

Motorcyclists and pillion riders recorded the highest number of fatalities at 31, followed by 20 deaths involving car drivers and their passengers with the remaining cases involving pedestrians, bicycle riders and drivers as well as passengers of four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department deputy director, Deputy Commissioner Mohd Nasri Omar, said a total of 7,180 accidents involving 9,198 vehicles were reported during the four days of the operation, which was launched on Wednesday in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.

"The number of accidents reported during Op Selamat 19 so far showed an increase of 37 per cent compared to the 5,236 cases reported during the same period of Op Selamat 17 held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration last year," he told Berita Harian.

The number of fatalities recorded during Op Selamat 19 as of today was similar to the same period of Op Selamat 17.

Police, he said, has issued more than 9,000 summonses involving six major traffic offences during the past four days of Op Selamat 19.

"Of the total, 3,250 summonses were issued for beating the traffic lights, followed by 2,785 summonses issued for exceeding the speed limit as well as using a phone while driving (1,316 summonses).

"A total of 1,183 summonses were issued for queue jumping, overtaking on double lines (692 summonses) and driving on the emergency lane (427 summonses)," he said.

He added that a total of 1,546 accidents involving 1,928 vehicles were reported on the fourth day of Op Selamat 19.

"Majority or 72.5 per cent of the cases involved cars, followed by 256 four-wheel-drive vehicles, 199 motorcycles and 42 lorries," he said.

The remaining cases, he said, involved 20 vans, 11 buses and three taxis. Op Selamat 19 will end on Friday. - NST