Address road safety through research, education

 

In Malaysia, there is a dedicated road safety research institute that focuses on comprehending and mitigating road accidents.

The government allocates to it a substantial annual budget, not solely to compile accident statistics, but also for in-depth research into the persistent rise in the number of road accidents.

This institute likely possesses valuable insights into the root causes of accidents and potential preventive measures.

Leveraging on its extensive knowledge and experience, it is essential that a comprehensive safe driving curriculum be formulated for educational institutions, including driving schools.

Unfortunately, the existing road safety education modules, which include training for drivers of commercial vehicle operators and other road users, have fallen short of expectations.

In much the same way, the road safety modules used at both primary and secondary schools have failed to generate the desired results.

Unlicenced students motorcyclists

Judging from the chaotic traffic congestions that surround many urban schools every day, we clearly have a long way to go in efforts to implement a road safety culture.

Whilst everyone agrees that such a culture has to start in our schools, no one seems to know, how to go about creating it and putting it into practice.

Unlike Japanese schools where road safety is ingrained in the school syllabus, Malaysian schools allocate minimal time towards inculcating it among students.

The existing system even permits students to ride motorcycles to schools without a valid licence, raising concerns about the values instilled in today’s youth as regards obeying road traffic rules and regulations.

In May 2016, The Star reported that some 93,000 students were found to be riding motorcycles without a licence.

Four years later, Miros published a research report titled “Determinants behind unlicensed motorcyclists among secondary school students”.

In November of last year, JPJ was reported as saying it intended to address the issue through advocacy, rather than legal action.

The issue has been widely discussed, researched and publicised over many years without any concrete solutions being put in place.

The road research institute should take the initiative in developing modules to instil road safety awareness in students, mirroring the successful approach in Japanese schools.

Motorcyclists on highways 

There is the pressing issue of allowing motorcyclists free access to highways, resulting in a large number of accidents and accounting for 59% of total road deaths in 2022.

In contrast, countries like Indonesia, Thailand, China, India and many others, have recognised the dangers and disallowed motorcycles on their highways.

It is, therefore, imperative that the road safety research institute strongly recommend that the government take immediate steps in at least three important aspects to improve road safety, that is –

•  develop a road safety culture among schoolchildren, so that they will be responsible road users as adults;
•  deal with the problem of secondary students riding motorcycles without valid licences; and
•  prohibit all two- and three-wheelers on highways.

These three crucial steps will help curb the alarming number of fatalities on Malaysian roads and add real meaning to Malaysia’s Road Safety Plan 2022-2030, which has set the target of reducing road death by 50% by 2030. - FMT

Part 1: Traffic accidents cannot only be blamed on users

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.