MIRI: A total of 5,609 road accidents were recorded in Sarawak from January to March this year, raising concerns over road safety in the state.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said 99 of the cases were fatal accidents, resulting in 107 deaths.
He said 30 cases involved serious injuries with 39 victims, while 69 cases resulted in minor injuries involving 87 people.
“The remaining 5,411 cases involved property damage,” he said when speaking at a road safety campaign organised by Endaya Construction Sdn Bhd at a petrol station in Pujut here on Monday.
The Senadin assemblyman added that Miri recorded 1,165 accident cases from January to April this year, a four per cent increase compared to 1,120 cases in the same period last year.
He said fatal accidents in the division rose from 14 to 19 cases, while the number of deaths increased from 15 to 20, marking an increase of more than 30 per cent.
Among high-risk locations identified are Jalan Miri By-Pass, Jalan Kuala Baram By-Pass, Jalan Persisiran Pantai, Jalan Pan Borneo and Jalan Miri-Airport.
Several blackspot areas were also identified, including Jalan Beraya, parts of Jalan Pan Borneo in Suai, and Jalan Miri By-Pass from Emart Riam to the Jalan Tanjung Batu junction.
Lee said the main causes of accidents include driver negligence, uneven road conditions and insufficient street lighting.
“Road safety is not solely dependent on enforcement, but also involves the provision of safe infrastructure and responsible behaviour among road users,” he said.
