Road Safety Now A National Responsibility Amid Rise In Work-related Accidents - Lee

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 (Bernama) -- Road safety must be treated as a national responsibility following  the alarming rise in work-related commuting accidents as well as road fatalities, particularly among motorcyclists, said social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

He said 46,542 or 50.9 per cent of the 91,456 accident cases recorded in 2025 involved commuting accidents to and from work, while motorcyclists accounted for more than 65 per cent of road fatalities.

He said behind every accident is a human tragedy involving lives lost, permanent injuries, emotional trauma, and families who suddenly lose their loved ones and breadwinners.

“Road safety must therefore be treated as a national responsibility that requires the commitment of all  stakeholders including the government, employers, enforcement agencies, road users, civil society, and the community at large,” he said in a statement today.

Therefore, Lee said the My Rider campaign, which was launched yesterday by the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) together with the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department was a timely initiative to address growing concerns over road accidents involving commuters especially motorcyclists.

However, he said although PERKESO played a crucial role in providing protection and compensation to victims and their families, financial assistance alone could not replace the pain and suffering caused by preventable accidents.

He said a stronger culture of prevention, awareness, responsibility and safe riding habits among road users especially motorcyclists, was urgently needed to curb the increasing number of accidents.

“Reckless riding, speeding, dangerous overtaking, distracted riding, and ignoring safety measures must never become a culture that is normalised,” he added.

Lee also urged employers to play a bigger role by encouraging safer commuting practices, promoting road safety education, allowing adequate rest for workers and ensuring employees who travel frequently are not placed under unreasonable pressure that could contribute to fatigue and accidents.

At the same time, he also called for enforcement efforts, infrastructure improvements and public awareness campaigns on road safety to be intensified nationwide, adding that road safety education should begin from a young age to cultivate responsible road behaviour as part of the national culture.

-- BERNAMA