By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Dec 19: Road accidents in Sarawak have surged from 12,706 cases recorded from January to November 2021, to 17,824 cases for the corresponding period in 2022, an increase of 40.3 per cent.
Over the same period, fatalities also increased by 17.1 per cent, from 299 deaths in 2021 to 350 deaths in 2022, and this is not a good sign for Sarawak road users, said Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin earlier today at the launching of the Sarawak road safety campaign in Miri in conjunction with Christmas and Chinese New Year celebrations.
The event was held at a Petronas fuel station in Permyjaya.
“The highest (total) in vehicle category involved in road accidents is the motorcar with 17,026 cases, followed by 4X4 road wheelers with 5,016 cases in the year up to November 2022,” he added.
For Miri Division, Lee said, road accident statistics showed an increase of 39.1 per cent, from 2,191 cases recorded in January to November 2021 to 3,047 cases in the corresponding period this year.
Meanwhile, over the same period, fatalities showed an increase of 11.4 per cent, from 44 deaths in 2021 to 49 deaths in 2022.
Lee said that the Sarawak Road Safety Campaign is an initiative by the Sarawak Road Safety Council under Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MOTS) to disseminate road safety information and promote road safety awareness, behavioural change and right attitude to all drivers and road users.
Also present were Sarawak Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Norizan Jili, Miri Deputy Police chief Supt Mohd Sabri Zainol and JPJ Miri branch chief Fifi Suhesty Hasmuni. — DayakDaily
