Effective implementation of the Highway Safety Plan (2006 - 2010)

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Government to improve immediately the effectiveness of implementing the Highway Safety Plan (2006 - 2010), so as to prevent the repeat of the North South Highway disaster.

Every year, the Government spends billions of ringgits on road safety. Still, the annual incidence of road accidents is over 300,000 cases with over 6,000 deaths.

Dr Tan comments on the incident of the Express Bus that plunged into the drain at the North South Highway between Kuala Kangsar and Taiping on 13.8.2007, causing 20 deaths and 9 injured.

Just like the Prime Minister, we feel aggrieved at the disaster. We hope that it will not be repeated. There are speculations such as the bus driver had 16 traffic offences, he was sleepy, the duration of driving was too long and there was no standby driver. The Government must investigate the accident to ascertain the causes and the ways to prevent such a calamity.

The public are concerned with the frequency of traffic accidents. For example, in 2004, there were 326,814 cases with 6,223 deaths; 2005 328,268 cases with 6,188 deaths; 2006 341,232 with 6,287 deaths and 2007 (up to 31 March) 87,668 with 1,482 deaths.

Motorists and pillion-riders are 35 and 25 times respectively more at risk of injuries and deaths compared with car passengers. The death rate of van and bus passengers is 1.5 and 1.4 times respectively compared with that of car passengers.

Some believe that the causes of accidents are mainly due to the negligence of drivers, followed by problems of environment and machine.

The Government has introduced the Highway Safety Plan ( 2006 -2010) for the second year. It must raise the effectiveness of the implementation. For example, every bus, lorry and van has a speed limit of 70/80 kilometres per hour. Very often we see these vehicles racing at over 110 km an hour. We wish the Transport Minister to be looking at not only new lessons for drivers and safety belts for bus passengers, but also the monitoring of bus speed along the highways.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

This is to inform you that DAP Kepong will be holding a dinner on 18.8.2007 at 7.30 pm at the Chooi Wah Restaurant, Jinjnag North, to commemorate the 50th Merdeka Day, 41st Anniversary of DAP and the purchase of a party premises. The speakers will be Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Tan Seng Giaw, Fong Po Kuan, Fong Kui Lun, Tan Kok Wai, Theresa Kok, Teng Chang Khim and Ooi Swee Lim.

These leaders will analyse current issues such as the federal constitution, politics, economy, education aand culture.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw