Malaysia Needs To Adopt Vision Zero To Prevent Road Deaths - Lam Thye

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia must urgently prioritise road safety by adopting ‘Vision Zero’ philosophy to prevent future road deaths and serious injuries, said Alliance for a Safe Community Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, in conjunction with World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

In a statement today, Lee said the day honours those who have died or been injured in road crashes that leave lasting scars on families and communities.

“Every life lost on the road is one too many. Behind each statistic is a parent, a child or a friend whose absence can never be replaced,” he said.

Lee stated that this year’s theme, ‘Lost Talents’ underscores the broader societal impact of road fatalities, where the loss of life also means a loss of potential, ideas and contributions to families and communities.

He stressed that road crashes remain a major public health challenge, disproportionately affecting younger generations as teens and young adults make up for a higher percentage of fatalities.

“Statistics from World Health Organisation shows that 1.19 million people die annually from road accidents, with road injuries the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5 to 29. More than half of these deaths were vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Malaysia, around 600,000 road crashes were recorded in 2023, resulting in 6,443 deaths, an average of 18 fatalities per day, with speeding contributing to 80 per cent of the fatal crashes.

Even so, Lee emphasised that road crashes are preventable, often arise from human error, unsafe road designs, poor enforcement and irresponsible behaviour.

He said achieving vision zero requires a shift in mindset, where safety becomes the foundation of every decision from road design and vehicle safety standards to education, enforcement and behaviour on the road.

Therefore, Lee urged the government, enforcement agencies, road safety experts, private sector players and civil society to strengthen policies, enforce traffic laws and foster a culture of respect and care among road users.

“On this day of remembrance, let us renew our commitment to prevent future tragedies. Let us pledge to make our roads safe for everyone - pedestrians, motorcyclists, passengers, and drivers - and work towards Vision Zero: zero deaths, zero excuse,” he said.

--BERNAMA