Malaysia sees deadly lorry crash every 36 hours
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is seeing a fatal road accident involving a heavy vehicle roughly every 36 hours, according to a recent study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS).
The study, based on 1,457 recorded fatalities over the past six years, highlights a troubling trend in road safety, particularly on highways, the New Straits Times reported.
The study found that lorry accidents on highways are more likely to result in deaths compared to those on federal, state, or municipal roads.
Researchers attributed the higher fatality rates to factors such as excessive speeding and overloaded lorries.
These risks are further amplified when accidents occur on bends, where the chances of fatal outcomes significantly increase.
The findings underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement and improved safety standards in the management of heavy vehicles on Malaysian roads.
According to Datuk Mohamad Hisham Shafe, a road safety activist, on average, a lorry accident happens every 2,164 minutes — which is one and a half days.
He said accidents involving lorries or other heavy vehicles pose a significantly greater risk of death because their large size and powerful impact far surpass those of smaller vehicles.
'Records show that the 1,457 deaths stemmed from around 3,500 lorry-related accidents across the country during that time frame.
'In addition, 473 cases of serious injuries and 1,076 minor injuries were reported as a result of these lorry accidents.
'Lorries are heavy-duty vehicles that cause significant impact in collisions, especially when travelling at high speeds on highways,' he was quoted as saying.
Despite that, the lorry drivers tend to get tired due to long working hours, he noted.
He also pointed out excessive workloads and unevenly distributed cargo are key factors contributing to vehicle instability on the roads.
Mohamad Hisham addressed that many lorries are poorly maintained, which compromises their long-term performance and roadworthiness, adding that the issue has been raised by the authorities for a long time.
'MIROS studies also revealed that only 32% of public transport and commercial vehicle operators complied with the Industrial Code of Practice for Transport Safety (ICOP) in 2022.
'All this data clearly indicates that commercial vehicle safety is not being taken seriously enough.
'Some operators continue to neglect maintenance evaluations and even use retreaded tyres,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: When commuting is a walk in the park
UNLESS people live off the grid, they would want homes near basic conveniences. With access to government services, supermarkets, schools and clinics, people also prefer living near bus or taxi terminals or commuter train stations for easy travel to the city. Residential areas near such transportation hubs have been fortunate to have infrastructure built around them. In the future, the plan is to reverse this: the National Transport Policy 2019–2030 (NTP) states that new housing projects will be developed on or near public transport stations. This concept, exemplified by the Kota Madani housing project, offers residences for low-income groups seeking a sustainable and organised urban lifestyle. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in introducing the concept, said it might require changes to existing regulations, as such housing projects promote broader use of the public transport system. Anwar's announcement is timely, as public transport usage stands at only 20 per cent nationwide, significantly below the 40 per cent target set in the NTP. The challenge, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke, is ensuring that the NTP achieves its goals. Anwar's initiative marks a significant step toward addressing low public transport usage. Building homes near transit stations could help resolve this issue. Still, as Loke said, the challenges are entrenched. Low public transport usage stems from inconvenient routes, unreliable service, frequent delays, poor last-mile connectivity, and the social perception of car ownership as a status symbol. Since the mid-1980s, Malaysia's push into industrialisation spurred domestic car production, making private vehicle ownership easy, affordable and widespread. The obsession with cars is exemplified by the six million vehicles entering Kuala Lumpur daily, 2.2 million during peak hours. For public transport to succeed — like Hong Kong's MTR or Singapore's MRT — the government must make tough policy decisions to reduce driving and incentivise bus and train usage. One approach would be to impose a congestion charge for city entry to encourage greater use of buses and trains. Other than limited parking, the measure most hated by motorists is paying to enter the city. Inconsistent schedules, Delays and overcrowding — though frustrating — are issues of management and efficiency, not infrastructure failure. The same applies to poor last-mile connectivity, inadequate waiting areas, and substandard bus infrastructure. In short, there must be a competent system — or artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions — to manage scheduling and operations. As for those living off-grid or in remote areas, an AI-enabled e-hailing service could offer a practical mobility solution. Balancing these complex factors — improving public transport while managing urban traffic congestion — remains the ultimate challenge.
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- New Straits Times
When commuting is a walk in the park
UNLESS people live off the grid, they would want homes near basic conveniences. With access to government services, supermarkets, schools and clinics, people also prefer living near bus or taxi terminals or commuter train stations for easy travel to the city. Residential areas near such transportation hubs have been fortunate to have infrastructure built around them. In the future, the plan is to reverse this: the National Transport Policy 2019–2030 (NTP) states that new housing projects will be developed on or near public transport stations. This concept, exemplified by the Kota Madani housing project, offers residences for low-income groups seeking a sustainable and organised urban lifestyle. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in introducing the concept, said it might require changes to existing regulations, as such housing projects promote broader use of the public transport system. Anwar's announcement is timely, as public transport usage stands at only 20 per cent nationwide, significantly below the 40 per cent target set in the NTP. The challenge, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke, is ensuring that the NTP achieves its goals. Anwar's initiative marks a significant step toward addressing low public transport usage. Building homes near transit stations could help resolve this issue. Still, as Loke said, the challenges are entrenched. Low public transport usage stems from inconvenient routes, unreliable service, frequent delays, poor last-mile connectivity, and the social perception of car ownership as a status symbol. Since the mid-1980s, Malaysia's push into industrialisation spurred domestic car production, making private vehicle ownership easy, affordable and widespread. The obsession with cars is exemplified by the six million vehicles entering Kuala Lumpur daily, 2.2 million during peak hours. For public transport to succeed — like Hong Kong's MTR or Singapore's MRT — the government must make tough policy decisions to reduce driving and incentivise bus and train usage. One approach would be to impose a congestion charge for city entry to encourage greater use of buses and trains. Other than limited parking, the measure most hated by motorists is paying to enter the city. Inconsistent schedules, Delays and overcrowding — though frustrating — are issues of management and efficiency, not infrastructure failure. The same applies to poor last-mile connectivity, inadequate waiting areas, and substandard bus infrastructure. In short, there must be a competent system — or artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions — to manage scheduling and operations. As for those living off-grid or in remote areas, an AI-enabled e-hailing service could offer a practical mobility solution. Balancing these complex factors — improving public transport while managing urban traffic congestion — remains the ultimate challenge.
Focus Malaysia
19 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
How Malaysian car owners can claim from motorcyclists' insurance in an accident
FENDER BENDERS – these are common place given Malaysia's gridlocked roads and lack of road etiquette among many motorists. As such, the poser on X by Fitri, Ph.D in Fish Genetics (@drfitriyusof) on whether a car owner can claim for insurance company for damages caused by a motorcycle in a road mishap is timely. Under Malaysian law, the Road Transport Act of 1987 mandates that every vehicle in Malaysia to have at least a Third-Party insurance coverage. Hence, a wronged motorist can make a claim from the motorcyclist's insurance. But it was pointed out that there is a bias favouring the lighter vehicle. It must be shown that the motorcyclist was 100% at fault. Such claims are indeed possible as some commenters – speaking from experience – were successful in getting indemnified from insurers of the motorcyclists. However, as is often the case, many motorcyclists do not have the necessary insurance coverage (not to mention license or road tax), prompting car owners to claim from their own insurance which led to their 'NCD (no claim discount) getting burned'. This is the crux of the matter. One commenter recounted his own experience involving a food delivery rider who did not have insurance coverage. He believes that under such circumstances, the courier companies should be liable as they should ensure that their riders are properly insured. One netizen helpfully posted a link that provided a step-by-step guide on how to make such claims. The site, goes on to list what must be done, starting with the all-important police report. The claim is made through an insurance panel workshop which will process the claim. The site also clarifies that car drivers are not automatically assumed to be at fault when involved with a fender bender with a two-wheeler. There were many comments that it was not possible to make such claims but this was probably because of false assumptions or the proper procedure not being adhered to. Fact of the matter is that too many motorcyclists lack the necessary insurance and road tax. This is what give rise to the problem. While the law may state otherwise, the reality of the situation is another. – June 4, 2025 Main image credit: vpRider/YouYTube
