Road Safety Requires United Action, Not Silo Efforts - DPM Ahmad Zahid

SEPANG, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged all ministries, agencies, industries and communities to break down silos and work collectively to make Malaysia’s roads safer.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Congestion, said decisions made at the national level must translate into real protection on the ground.

“Road safety is not, and must never be, the burden of one ministry alone. It demands coordination, accountability and shared ownership across government and society,” he said in his keynote address at the Road Safety Congress 2025, held in conjunction with Transport Expo Asia here today.

Also present were Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail.

Ahmad Zahid emphasised that Malaysia’s Road Safety Plan 2022-2030, which aims to cut fatalities by 50 per cent by the end of this decade, requires more than infrastructure and enforcement -- it calls for a cultural transformation that values caution, responsibility and care.

He said turning strategy into reality means designing safer roads that reduce the impact of human error, enforcing laws without fear or favour and nurturing a culture that sees safety not as a restriction, but as a sign of strength and maturity.

The government’s priorities, he added, include enhancing heavy vehicle safety through functional seatbelts, the installation of speed limiters, better rest and training standards and the introduction of telematic monitoring to enhance accountability.

“We are also improving school zones and pedestrian facilities, treating blackspots and intensifying enforcement against speeding and vehicle overloading.

“Yet, government action alone is insufficient. Road safety is a shared responsibility. Parents must model safe habits. Teachers must nurture values early. Employers must support responsible driving.

“Local councils must design environments that protect. Industry must innovate with purpose. When every layer of society plays its part, we build a culture that values life and protects one another,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said culture is shaped not only by laws, but by habits -- how people ride, drive and look out for one another.

“It begins at home, where parents set examples. It grows in schools, where values take root. It spreads through communities, where friends remind friends to ride safely,” he said.

He also emphasised the need to engage youth and the public through modern, technology-driven education, using augmented reality, gaming elements and artificial intelligence tools to make road safety learning immersive and relevant.

“We must go further. We need to encourage student-led safety clubs, campus-based micro-campaigns, influencer partnerships, and digital ambassadors who can communicate road safety messages in the language of their generation.

“When we educate boldly, communicate creatively and trust young Malaysians to lead, we will not only change behaviour, we will cultivate a generation that honours life, respects safety and carries this mission with conviction,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to building a national culture of responsibility, one where safety becomes second nature.

“Let us together reaffirm our commitment to strengthen enforcement, improve infrastructure, empower youth and ensure safety guides our decisions,” he added.

-- BERNAMA