Latest news with #CabinetCommitteeonRoadSafetyandTrafficCongestion
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Govt panel agrees to funding mechanism for road safety initiatives
PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion (JK-MKKJR) has agreed in principle to establish a funding mechanism for road safety initiatives, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today. He said the proposed mechanism involves allocating 50 per cent of revenue collected from the Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS) summonses to the Transport Ministry (MOT) for implementing targeted safety programmes. 'Among them are improving highway lighting in accident-prone hotspots, and this will be implemented immediately. 'We hope to have a more sustainable source of revenue to support mitigation efforts aimed at reducing road accident risks,' he told a press conference after chairing the committee meeting here. Loke also said road safety along the East-West Highway (JRTB) between Gerik and Jeli will be enhanced, particularly concerning wildlife crossings, following a recent heartbreaking incident involving a mother elephant seen refusing to leave her calf's side after it was killed in a collision with a lorry in the area. 'Among others, we will look into improving lighting in that stretch and introducing wildlife crossings as part of broader safety upgrades,' he said. He said wildlife protection will also be a key consideration in railway infrastructure projects. 'This will be addressed along the Gemas–Johor Bahru rail line, especially since there have been past incidents of elephants crossing railway tracks. 'This is something we take seriously, not only to protect wildlife but also human lives. Railway lines pose significant risks if high-speed trains collide with large animals such as elephants, and the consequences can be severe,' he added.
The Star
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Govt panel agrees to funding mechanism for road safety initiatives, says Loke
PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion has agreed in principle to establish a funding mechanism for road safety initiatives, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said the proposed mechanism involves allocating 50% of revenue collected from the Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas) summonses to the Transport Ministry for implementing targeted safety programmes. "Among them are improving highway lighting in accident-prone hotspots, and this will be implemented immediately. "We hope to have a more sustainable source of revenue to support mitigation efforts aimed at reducing road accident risks," he told a press conference after chairing the committee meeting here on Tuesday (May 13). Loke also said road safety along the East-West Highway between Gerik and Jeli will be enhanced, particularly concerning wildlife crossings, following a recent heartbreaking incident involving a mother elephant seen refusing to leave her calf's side after it was killed in a collision with a lorry in the area. "Among others, we will look into improving lighting in that stretch and introducing wildlife crossings as part of broader safety upgrades," he said. He said wildlife protection will also be a key consideration in railway infrastructure projects. "This will be addressed along the Gemas-Johor Bahru rail line, especially since there have been past incidents of elephants crossing railway tracks. "This is something we take seriously, not only to protect wildlife but also human lives. Railway lines pose significant risks if high-speed trains collide with large animals such as elephants, and the consequences can be severe," he added. - Bernama
Barnama
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Barnama
Govt panel Agrees To Funding Mechanism For Road Safety Initiatives
PUTRAJAYA, May 13 (Bernama) -- The Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion (JK-MKKJR) has agreed in principle to establish a funding mechanism for road safety initiatives, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today. He said the proposed mechanism involves allocating 50 per cent of revenue collected from the Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS) summonses to the Transport Ministry (MOT) for implementing targeted safety programmes. 'Among them are improving highway lighting in accident-prone hotspots, and this will be implemented immediately. 'We hope to have a more sustainable source of revenue to support mitigation efforts aimed at reducing road accident risks,' he told a press conference after chairing the committee meeting here. Loke also said road safety along the East-West Highway (JRTB) between Gerik and Jeli will be enhanced, particularly concerning wildlife crossings, following a recent heartbreaking incident involving a mother elephant seen refusing to leave her calf's side after it was killed in a collision with a lorry in the area. 'Among others, we will look into improving lighting in that stretch and introducing wildlife crossings as part of broader safety upgrades,' he said. He said wildlife protection will also be a key consideration in railway infrastructure projects. 'This will be addressed along the Gemas–Johor Bahru rail line, especially since there have been past incidents of elephants crossing railway tracks. 'This is something we take seriously, not only to protect wildlife but also human lives. Railway lines pose significant risks if high-speed trains collide with large animals such as elephants, and the consequences can be severe,' he added.
New Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Speed limit in school zones to be reduced to 30km/h soon, says Loke
SEREMBAN: The government will soon gazette a reduction in the maximum speed limit for vehicles in school zones from 50 kilometres per hour (km/h) to 30km/h to enhance safety, particularly for school students. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the new speed limit is currently in the process of being gazetted, but the policy decision has already been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion. The move, he said, was taken to create safer school zones, as these areas have a history of road accidents, especially involving students who walk or cycle to school. "The committee has made a policy decision to lower the speed limit in all school zone areas to 30km/h. "The decision is backed by a scientific data study, which showed that reducing the speed limit to 30km/h significantly lowers the risk of fatal accidents. The study also found that every 10 km/h increase in speed raises the risk of student deaths," he told reporters after officiating the 61st Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Road Safety Council (MKJR) at the Royale Chulan Hotel here. Present was the ministry secretary-general Datuk Jana Santhiran Muniayan. Commenting further, Loke, who is also the Seremban member of Parliament, said the implementation of the reduced speed limit would require cooperation from other ministries and local authorities, particularly in providing the necessary supporting infrastructure. He said that in addition to gazetting the maximum speed limit, authorities must also ensure that proper road infrastructure is in place in school zones, such as warning signs and yellow road markings, to alert road users and encourage them to slow down. "On average, there are about 70 fatal accidents in school zones each year," Loke said. Meanwhile, at MJKR's meeting today, Loke said it focused on community-based road safety initiatives, including the My Safe Road programme, which targets interventions in high-risk areas to reduce fatalities and serious injuries from road accidents. "In addition, MKJR will also focus on the Safe School Zone initiative and the Road Safety Leadership Fellowship Programme, which aims to develop young leaders who can drive community-based road safety initiatives using the Safe System Approach," he said. Loke added that this approach has proven effective in reducing road accident fatalities in developed countries. However, it requires a paradigm shift, not merely blaming driver behaviour, but also emphasising systemic improvements such as road conditions, vehicle safety, speed limits and law enforcement.
The Star
29-04-2025
- The Star
30kph speed limit to be gazetted at school zones, says Transport Minister
SEREMBAN: A 30pkph speed limit will be gazetted at school zones nationwide and will be enforced soon, says Anthony Loke Siew Fook. The Transport Minister said with an average 70 fatalities in school zones a year, there was a pressing need to reduce the speed limit in these areas. He said the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion chaired by the deputy prime minister had agreed in principle to reduce the speed limit. "The Road Safety Council will get this programme going at selected schools this year. "We need to do this to ensure the safety of both the students as well as other road users," he said after chairing the 61st annual general meeting of the council here. Loke said studies show that reducing the speed limit to 30kph can greatly reduce fatalities and serious injury to road users. He said efforts should be made to put up signs, school crossings, speed breakers, road dividers and other safety equipment in school zones. Wardens will also be engaged. Loke said the Public Works Department and local councils have been told the gazette the new speed limit. "They have been notified. It is my hope that action is quickly taken to gazette the relevant laws," he said. Loke said speed limits in school zones was a norm in many countries. "This is actually the international standard. This was also one of the resolutions under the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety which we took part in previously, " he said. He said he hoped motorists would not object to this as it was for the safety of students.
