Latest news with #KulanthayanK.C
Malaysian Reserve
11-05-2025
- Malaysian Reserve
h in school zones can help reduce fatalities expert
KUALA LUMPUR — The government's decision to gazette the speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour (30 km/h) in school zones is a timely measure to protect lives, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and global efforts to enhance road safety. Executive Director of Safe Kids Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Professor Dr Kulanthayan K.C. Mani said that reducing vehicle speed even by one kilometer per hour can reduce the risk of death by five percent. 'If the average speed is reduced by five percent, the risk of fatal accidents can be reduced by up to 30 percent,' he told Bernama in conjunction with the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week (UNGRSW), from May 12 to 18, themed Walking and Cycling Safe. According to him, the impact of collision on human is highest at speeds exceeding 30 km/h because the human body can only absorb impact energy maximally at that limit. 'Exceeding 30 km/h significantly raises the risk of death,' he said. Statistics in 2023 showed that Malaysia recorded nearly 600,000 accident cases and 6,473 deaths, equivalent to one accident every 53 seconds and one death every 80 minutes and of the total, more than 67 percent of the victims involved motorcyclists and passengers. Kulanthayan clearly stated that this speed limit measure needs to be supported with the provision of safe infrastructure such as 30km/h signboards, road bumps, pedestrian crossings, bicycle lanes, bus stop areas, and the use of reflective clothing as well as bicycle helmets for children. He also emphasized the importance of cultivating a culture of zero summonses, zero accidents, and zero road deaths through the involvement of all parties – government, industry, community, insurance companies, and automotive. 'The use of technology such as monitoring cameras, electronic cameras, and dashcams also needs to be expanded to enhance enforcement and monitoring on the roads,' he said. Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook was reported to have said that the government will gazette a speed limit of 30 km/h in all school zones following an average of 70 deaths recorded each year in school areas, making this effort an urgent necessity. According to the WHO, a speed limit of 30 km/h in populated areas, schools, and pedestrian zones has been scientifically proven to reduce the risk of death and serious injury, as well as supporting safer walking and cycling. This World Road Safety Week also urged UN member countries to expand this initiative in an effort to achieve the target of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 percent by year 2030. — BERNAMA
New Straits Times
02-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Calls grow for stricter safety rules after boy dies in school van
KUALA LUMPUR: The tragic death of a five-year-old boy left in a locked school van has shocked Malaysia and sparked urgent discussions on child safety in transportation. As public pressure mounts, experts are calling for a comprehensive overhaul, not just of regulations, but also of everyday practices and community culture. Putra Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Group at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) head and Safe Kids Malaysia executive director, Prof Dr Kulanthayan K.C. Mani, said the issue of children being forgotten in vehicles is entirely preventable. He said that no family should ever have to experience such a loss. "Children being left behind in vehicles is a preventable tragedy, and no family should have to endure such a loss. "We need a multi-pronged approach, technological, procedural, and educational," he said. Prof Kulanthayan called for Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG) to keep records of transport arrangements and to be actively engaged in monitoring. "A simple step like this could save a life." MY Mobility Vision founder and transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said the immediate safety improvement would be child-check alarm systems. "These systems are simple yet effective. They require the driver to walk to the back of the van to deactivate the alarm. "Countries like South Korea already mandate them," he said. Wan Agyl suggested adding attendance logbooks or digital tracking systems to monitor pick-ups and drop-offs, but warned that cost remains a significant obstacle. "Most van operators are small-scale and struggling to cover costs. We cannot impose safety upgrades without financial support," he said. He further proposed a mobile verification app for parents to check the legitimacy of van operators, providing informal services with a path to formalisation without exclusion. Suriana Welfare Society of Malaysia consultant and child safety advocate Dr James Nayagam pointed out that a lack of collaboration among stakeholders is a major issue. "We must get parents, schools, and operators to work together in a more systematic way. "By coordinating efforts, from basic checklists to shared accountability, we can significantly reduce these risks," he said. He said raising public awareness and involving PIBGs in monitoring transport arrangements would be key to improving safety. "The community has to be part of the solution; it can't be left to the authorities alone." From a legal standpoint, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Child Commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki underscored the importance of enforcing child protection laws. "Failure to check for children can be deemed negligence under Section 31 of the Child Act 2001. "If a child doesn't show up at school, the centre should contact the parents immediately, this is a basic, proactive safeguard," she said. As Malaysia mourns this avoidable loss, experts agree on one thing - safety reform must be inclusive, affordable, and community-driven. It was reported that a five-year-old boy died after being left in a locked school van in Taman Bukit Indah.
