BY MA CHEE SENG AND EDWINNIE EINSTEIN UNJI
KUCHING: A total of 5,278 accident cases were reported in Sarawak from January to March this year, said Minister of Transport Sarawak Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shi.
Speaking at a press conference following the state-level Road Safety Campaign for the festive season yesterday (Apr 3), Lee said that out of these cases, 75 were fatal accidents with Miri recording the highest number of fatal accidents with 15 cases, followed by Padawan and Bintulu, each reporting nine cases.
Furthermore, Sibu and Sarikei reported six cases each, while Saratok, Kuching, and Marudi had four cases each.
Belaga reported three cases, Lundu two, and Bau, Kapit, Lawas, Lubuk Antu, Meradong, Mukah, Samarahan, Serian, Simunjan, and Sri Aman each reported one case.
“According to our current statistics in Sarawak, from January to October 2023, 85 per cent of accidents occurred due to negligence and carelessness.
“These include rear-end collisions at 28 per cent, speeding and skidding at 24 per cent, side collisions when entering and exiting junctions at 19 per cent, frontal collisions at 9 per cent, and side swiping at 5 per cent,” he said.
He warned that during festive seasons, the incidence of accidents tends to rise if caution is not exercised, attributing this to the increased volume of vehicles and road users as many individuals return to their hometowns or come back from overseas to celebrate with their families.
“We also encourage road users to prioritise safety by wearing seat belts and helmets; don’t wait for law enforcement to be present before using them.
“Hence, we consistently emphasise the importance of utmost caution and strict adherence to all traffic regulations for all road users.
“Furthermore, each accident signifies a loss, impacting not only the individuals involved but also the nation as a whole,” he said.
During the event, Lee also distributed 200 helmets along with 400 servings of porridge to the public.
