By Jacob Achoi
SERIAN, Dec 21: Courteous driving should be made a way of life for drivers, says Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong.
He said this was necessary to avoid road accidents caused by the negative attitude of drivers.
According to Manyin, most of road accidents happened due to negative attitude of drivers, although other factors like road and weather conditions besides poor condition of the vehicles also contributed to it.
“The main culprit of road accidents is always the negative attitude of drivers, so courteous driving should be made our way of life to reduce road accidents, which sometimes resulted in fatality,” Manyin pointed out.
He was speaking at the launching of state level road safety campaign 2020 in front of Everwin supermarket, here today.
He cited an example that there were drivers who will drive slowly on the right side of highway or dual carriageway.
“There are notices being erected on dual carriageway or highway that drivers should keep on the left when not overtaking, but unfortunately there are drivers who drive slowly and keep driving on the right side and this can cause accident.
“So it is hoped that the police or Road Transport Department (JPJ) will come down hard on these drivers,” Manyin stressed.
Manyin, who is Tebedu assemblyman also said he was glad to note the decrease in road accidents in Serian division from Jan to Nov this year, compared to last year’s corresponding period.
He cited fatal accidents were reduced from 32 last year to 18 this year, while serious accidents decreased to four from seven last year.
However, he said the decrease in road accidents was due to the Covid- 19 pandemic where there were less vehicles during festive seasons.
“While I am happy that there are reduced cases of road accidents, I feel that the scenario was due to Covid-19, where there were less vehicles during Hari Raya and Gawai celebrations this year,” Manyin said.
He advised those celebrating this coming Christmas to strictly follow the standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the government.
Present were Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus and Serian Resident Tuah Suni, among others. — DayakDaily
