Sarawak Road Accident Figures Call For Stronger Safety Measures
SIBU, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- A total of 21,747 road accidents were recorded in Sarawak in 2025, resulting in 418 deaths, underscoring the continued need to strengthen road safety awareness and enforcement, said Sarawak Minister for Transport Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.
He said in Sibu alone, 2,146 accidents were reported, including 39 fatalities, 13 serious injuries and six minor injuries, while the majority of cases involved vehicle damage only.
“The statistics show that road safety remains a serious concern and reflects the real risks faced by road users, requiring greater awareness and cooperation from all parties,” he said at the Sibu Division-level Road Safety Campaign in conjunction with the Chinese New Year 2026 celebration here today.
To enhance road safety during the festive season, Lee said the Road Transport Department (JPJ) is conducting a 14-day Chinese New Year Special Operation from Feb 9 to 22, involving full enforcement deployment and a freeze on leave for personnel.
As an early preventive measure, technical inspections on express buses are being carried out by the JPJ at major depots in Kuching, Sibu and Miri from Feb 9 to 12 to ensure the vehicles meet safety standards.
Comprehensive enforcement and monitoring will be implemented from Feb 13 to 22, focusing on compliance with traffic laws, vehicle safety and driver discipline, particularly among commercial vehicle operators.
Driving restrictions on goods vehicles will be enforced on Feb 14 and 15, as well as on Feb 21 and 22, to reduce accident risks and ensure smoother traffic flow during the peak travel period.
The operation is conducted in collaboration with the police and the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) to strengthen enforcement and address drug abuse among drivers.
Lee urged commercial vehicle operators, drivers and all road users to comply with regulations and prioritise safety, stressing that enforcement will be strictly carried out without compromise.
He added that the initiative supports the government’s target to reduce road fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030, while encouraging the public to report traffic offences via the MyJPJ application or email and to make road safety a daily practice.
-- BERNAMA
