M'SIA: NEGLIGENCE MAIN CAUSE OF 6,845 DEATHS IN ROAD ACCIDENTS IN 2008

KUCHING (Malaysia), July 20 (Bernama) -- Negligence and not making road
safety a priority were the main reasons for 6,845 people to die in road
accidents in the
country last year.

Deputy Transport Minister Robert Lau Hoi Chew said although various
measures had been taken like enforcement and organising road safety campaigns to
reduce the problem, the people were still taking road safety for granted.

"I am really disappointed that only 30 per cent adhere to wearing the back
seat safety belts despite the campaign launched. It's the same with
motorcyclists; they wear the crash helmet because they are afraid of police
action but not because of safety," he said before meeting with representatives
of 11 public transport companies, here, Monday.

Lau said 2,8886 fatal road accidents were reported in the first six months
of this year.

Motorcyclists made up 60 per cent of fatal road accidents, he added.

Lau said many road users were still making simple but fatal mistakes like
overtaking another vehicle from the left or driving while sleepy or tired.

"According to studies, usually a driver is in a good state to drive only for
four hours or 300km at a stretch, but after this he needs to rest or stop for a
while before he continues his journey," he said.

On complaints about the presence of pirate taxis and vehicles from a
neighbouring country operating illegally by carrying passengers in the state,
Lau said the relevant authority with the cooperation of the police would step up
enforcement and monitor vehicles coming in from Indonesia in an effort to
protect the interest of licensed transport operators.

Based on statistics from the Road Transport Department, 9,480 private cars,
vans/4x4s, lorries, buses and government-owned vehicles from Indonesia entered
Sarawak, an East coast of Malaysia, last year, and 4,006 in the first six months
of this year.

-- BERNAMA