KUALA LUMPUR – 807 cases of counterflow driving have been reported in the first seven months of this year, said Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
From that amount, 29 cases involved fatal accidents, 17 cases caused serious injuries, 49 cases light injuries while 712 cases caused damages.
“Studies found that human factor was the main contributor to road accidents, especially driving above speed limit, driving under influence of alcohol and drugs, unfocussed drivers such as the use of mobile phones, driving navigation apps and disobeying traffic rules,” he said in reply to the questions by the Ledang Member of Parliament (MP), Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh during the Ministers’ Question Time (MQT) at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Syed Ibrahim requested Ka Siong to reveal data and statistics on road accidents involving contraflow driving.
The most recent case, on 17 September, a 24 year-old man was arrested after driving against traffic and causing two deaths at Kilometre 8.6 of the Federal Highway.
Two teenagers, Nur Afiqah Abdul Karim, 18, and Muhammad Hafiz Syami Dzul Asri, 19, died after their Proton Wira Aeroback was hit by a Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck driven against traffic at Kilometer 8.6 of the Federal Highway on 12 September.
Meanwhile, Ka Siong said that 2,560 fatal road accidents were recorded during the same period and 11 of the deaths were caused by driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
To curb the rise of such cases, the Ministry of Transport has enforced the amendments on Road Transport Act 1987 since 30 October last year.
He added, the amendment increases the existing punishment, by increasing the rate of fine and the years of imprisonment.
“The amendment of the punishment is aimed to create awareness among the public to obey the law,” he said. -MalaysiaGazette
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