ID :
129291
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 08:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/129291
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FATALITIES INVOLVING THOSE AGED BETWEEN 16 AND 20 HIGHEST IN ROAD ACCIDENTS
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- Those aged between 16 and 20, accounted for the highest number of fatalities in road accidents nationwide between 2006 and 2008, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) said Tuesday.
It said in a statement that the police accident statistics in the three-year
period revealed that the number of fatalities involving those in that age group
was consistently the highest.
In 2006, 1,148 teenagers lost their lives on the road, 977 were killed in
2007 and 1,149 fatalities were recorded in 2008.
Miros said those in this age group also accounted for the highest number of
serious injuries at 2,091 cases in 2006, 2,074 cases in 2007, and 1,933 cases in
2008.
A total of 4,292, 3,744, and 3,454 teenagers were slightly injured in road
accidents in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
"The number of cases is extremely alarming and calls for an immediate review
of the safety measures are currently in place, with various initiatives being
undertaken for the safety of young road users," said Miros director-general
Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah.
He said, most fatalities and injuries were sustained on motorcycles where
the teenagers were either riding or were pillion riders. This was followed by
car collisions.
While traffic regulations were in place, in the interest and for the
safety of all road users, and continued enforcement by the authorities, Ahmad
Farhan said the less desirable attitude of some teenage road users were directly
responsible for the increasing loss of lives and serious injuries on the road.
Daily examples of teenagers taking road safety for granted can be seen by
the number of those who ride a motorcycle without helmet, especially in the
rural and residential areas; those who do not properly fasten their helmet;
individuals who ride and drive dangerously; those deliberately flouting traffic
regulations or not demonstrating proper etiquette on the road or appear
completely oblivious to the importance of road safety awareness.
In some instances, parents are also to be blamed for allowing underaged or
unlicensed teenagers to take to the roads on motorcycles and in cars, thus not
only endangering the lives of their children but also that of other road users.
Ahmad Farhan reminded parents that while teenagers might demonstrate the
skill and ability to ride a motorcycle or drive a car, the absence of formal
training and going through the process of obtaining a driver's licence meant
they were not fully aware or understood traffic regulations.
-- BERNAMA
It said in a statement that the police accident statistics in the three-year
period revealed that the number of fatalities involving those in that age group
was consistently the highest.
In 2006, 1,148 teenagers lost their lives on the road, 977 were killed in
2007 and 1,149 fatalities were recorded in 2008.
Miros said those in this age group also accounted for the highest number of
serious injuries at 2,091 cases in 2006, 2,074 cases in 2007, and 1,933 cases in
2008.
A total of 4,292, 3,744, and 3,454 teenagers were slightly injured in road
accidents in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
"The number of cases is extremely alarming and calls for an immediate review
of the safety measures are currently in place, with various initiatives being
undertaken for the safety of young road users," said Miros director-general
Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah.
He said, most fatalities and injuries were sustained on motorcycles where
the teenagers were either riding or were pillion riders. This was followed by
car collisions.
While traffic regulations were in place, in the interest and for the
safety of all road users, and continued enforcement by the authorities, Ahmad
Farhan said the less desirable attitude of some teenage road users were directly
responsible for the increasing loss of lives and serious injuries on the road.
Daily examples of teenagers taking road safety for granted can be seen by
the number of those who ride a motorcycle without helmet, especially in the
rural and residential areas; those who do not properly fasten their helmet;
individuals who ride and drive dangerously; those deliberately flouting traffic
regulations or not demonstrating proper etiquette on the road or appear
completely oblivious to the importance of road safety awareness.
In some instances, parents are also to be blamed for allowing underaged or
unlicensed teenagers to take to the roads on motorcycles and in cars, thus not
only endangering the lives of their children but also that of other road users.
Ahmad Farhan reminded parents that while teenagers might demonstrate the
skill and ability to ride a motorcycle or drive a car, the absence of formal
training and going through the process of obtaining a driver's licence meant
they were not fully aware or understood traffic regulations.
-- BERNAMA
