KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17: Malaysians must adopt a more responsible and disciplined driving culture to improve road safety, says Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli.
Road safety, he said, is a shared responsibility, and all road users must comply with traffic laws and respect others on the road.
“On the occasion of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR) 2025 on Sunday, JPJ calls on all Malaysians to value every life on the road and work together to reduce road accidents by adhering to traffic laws,” he said in a statement.
Aedy Fadly said JPJ remained committed to strengthening enforcement through integrated operations and expanding awareness campaigns to various community groups.
This effort is supported by close collaboration with the police (PDRM), the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“JPJ reaffirms its commitment to reducing accident rates and prioritising road user safety, aligning with Malaysia’s vision for a safer transport system,” he said.
This year’s WDoR theme, ‘Investing in Safe Roads to Recover Our Lost Talents’focuses on the need to invest in safe road infrastructure and intelligent transportation systems to protect all users, particularly youth, who are at higher risk.
WDoR, established by the United Nations (UN) in 2005, is observed to honour accident victims and recognise the sacrifices of frontline workers, including rescuers, enforcement officers, and medical staff.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, says Malaysia must urgently prioritise road safety by adopting the ‘Vision Zero’ philosophy to prevent future road deaths and serious injuries.
In a statement in conjunction with WDoR 2025, Lee said the day honoured those who have died or been injured in road crashes that leave lasting scars on families and communities.
“Every life lost on the road is one too many. Behind each statistic is a parent, a child or a friend whose absence can never be replaced,” he said.
Lee stated that this year’s theme, ‘Lost Talents’ underscores the broader societal impact of road fatalities, where the loss of life also means a loss of potential, ideas and contributions to families and communities.
He stressed that road crashes remain a major public health challenge, disproportionately affecting younger generations as teens and young adults make up for a higher percentage of fatalities.
“Statistics from the World Health Organisation show that 1.19 million people die annually from road accidents, with road injuries the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5 to 29. More than half of these deaths were vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists,” he said.
In Malaysia, around 600,000 road crashes were recorded in 2023, resulting in 6,443 deaths, an average of 18 fatalities per day, with speeding contributing to 80 per cent of the fatal crashes.
Lee emphasised that road crashes were preventable as they often arose from human error, unsafe road designs, poor enforcement and irresponsible behaviour.
He said achieving Vision Zero required a shift in mindset, where safety becomes the foundation of every decision from road design and vehicle safety standards to education, enforcement and behaviour on the road.
Lee urged the government, enforcement agencies, road safety experts, private sector players and civil society to strengthen policies, enforce traffic laws and foster a culture of respect and care among road users.
“On this day of remembrance, let us renew our commitment to prevent future tragedies. Let us pledge to make our roads safe for everyone – pedestrians, motorcyclists, passengers, and drivers – and work towards Vision Zero: zero deaths, zero excuse,” he said.
–BERNAMA