KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, announced that statistics on road fatalities will now be released on a daily basis in an effort to raise awareness about road safety. He mentioned that the Road Transport Department will collaborate with the police to make this data public, and urged the media to publish it as well.
Loke highlighted that a platform similar to the CovidNow website, which provides the latest statistics on Covid-19, could be used for this purpose. He emphasized the importance of sharing this information with the public, comparing the seriousness of road accidents to the ongoing pandemic.
During a press conference at the Parliament building on Wednesday (March 6), Loke mentioned that the Cabinet committee on traffic congestion and road safety had decided on this approach earlier in the day. He also stated that the ministry will soon meet with editors to provide them with more details.
Last year, a total of 6,443 road fatalities were reported, indicating an average of 18 deaths daily. Loke pointed out that nearly two-thirds of these fatalities involved motorcycles, with 4,448 deaths in total. The aim of releasing daily reports is to change people’s mindset and highlight the severity of road accidents.
In another development, Loke announced that an open payment system, allowing the use of credit and debit cards, will be implemented soon on public buses managed by Prasarana. Currently, cashless payment is only possible through Touch ’n Go.
He mentioned that Prasarana has initiated a tender process for this system and instructed to prioritize it for buses initially. Installing a card reader in each bus will enable this open payment system, which was originally planned for both rail and bus systems for public convenience, especially for foreign tourists.
Loke expressed hope that the open payment system could be extended to Rapid KL buses by the end of the year. He also discussed measures to address traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur, revealing the committee’s approval of a proposal by City Hall to establish a contra flow lane from the Sungai Besi toll plaza to the SMART.
Further details about this lane will be announced by City Hall, as efforts continue to improve road safety and traffic flow in the city. Loke emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in promoting road safety and reducing the number of road accidents.
