Why are road accidents increasing in Malaysia?

THE recent surge in fatal road accidents across Malaysia should no longer be viewed as isolated incidents but as a national crisis.

With over 600,000 road crashes reported in 2023 and more than 6,400 lives lost, 65 per cent involving motorcyclists, urgent action is needed.

What's more alarming is the growing number of youth and students among the casualties.

From January to September 2024 alone, 779 students were killed in road accidents.

These are not just statistics; they are lives full of potential, cut short. The financial impact is just staggering.

A school student died while a friend was seriously injured after the motorcycle they were riding was hit by a multipurpose vehicle on Jalan Sungai Tiram heading towards Bandar Tiram on Apr 26.

According to Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Malaysia lost RM25 billion in economic value in 2023 due to road crashes.

These losses reflect lost productivity, long-term healthcare, property damage and emotional tolls that families silently bear.

Among the contributing factors are reckless driving, lack of road discipline, under-regulated commercial transport vehicles and inconsistent enforcement of traffic laws.

In fact, in just six years, lorry accidents alone have claimed nearly 1,500 lives. This cannot be normalised.

The government has introduced initiatives such as Ops Selamat and plans to use artificial intelligence in traffic enforcement. However, these efforts must be strengthened with consistent execution.

Moreover, there must be better road safety education, especially among youth and motorcyclists as well as stricter licensing systems.

It is time to reframe road safety as shared responsibility. Citizens, educators, policymakers, and law enforcement must work together to stop this wave of preventable tragedies.

Malaysia cannot afford to lose more lives to the very roads we all depend on daily.

Muhammad Adam Kharezmie Abdul Rezal is a first-year law student at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Sinar Daily.