SERIAN: Road users of the Pan Borneo Highway should familiarise themselves with traffic rules and regulations.
Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said that this is due to an increase in the number of reported accident cases on the Pan Borneo Highway, spanning from minor injuries to the loss of lives.
These, he asserted, include driving with a maximum speed limit of 90 kilometres per hour on open roads, 60 kilometres per hour when driving through flyovers, and refraining from making U-turns at P-turns.
He also advised the public to use pedestrian overhead bridges when crossing roads, especially near schools and villages, to avoid driving against traffic, and much more.
“Day by day, we can observe through social media, television, and news portals reports of accidents occurring on the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway, especially during festive seasons.
“There are also instances on social media platforms where videos depict certain highway users engaging in behaviours like driving against the flow of traffic, performing U-turns at P junctions, and even making illegal turns that result in accidents.
“Additionally, cases of theft and vandalism against the facilities provided along this highway are not uncommon.
“Therefore, the state government, in collaboration with various departments and agencies, believes that a serious approach is necessary,” he said.
He said this when launching the Pan Borneo Highway Road Safety Advocacy Campaign 2023 at the Sarawak Administration Centre here today (Aug 26).
His text of speech was read by the Deputy Minister of Transport (Aviation and Roads) Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.
As such, he noted that such awareness programmes are timely and crucial to addressing these issues.
During the programme, there were a few briefings held, including background and current information about Pan Borneo Highway by the Sarawak Public Works Department (PWD), regulations and traffic issues along Pan Borneo Highway by Pan Borneo Highway Management, traffic rules and laws by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and traffic regulations and laws by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Attended by around 250 community leaders and village chiefs, the event aimed to disseminate information and enhance public awareness across Sarawak.
This is particularly important as the use of this new highway is still relatively new to the local community.
The programme is jointly organised by the Sarawak PWD through the Pan Borneo Highway Unit (ULPB) and the Resident Office of Serian Division.
Among those present were Serian Resident Caroline Cleophas Joseph and PWD senior principal assistant director (Pan Borneo Highway Unit) Awang Mohamad Fadillah Awang Redzuan.
