Sabtu (right) securing helmets on motorcyclists passing by Kubah Ria. — Photo by Kong Jun Liung
KUCHING: The ‘Ops Selamat 7/2015 Hari Raya Aidilfitri’ operation from July 10 to 24 hopes to reduce the number of road accidents during the holiday exodus, said State Police Commissioner Dato Sri Muhammad Sabtu Osman.
He said the 15-day operation, launched yesterday, was being carried out by the police and relevant authorities like Public Works Department (JKR), Bomba, Civil Defence Department, Malaysia Road Safety Department (JKJR) Sarawak and Road Transport Department. It does not focus solely on road accidents, but also crime prevention at homes.
Among advice he gave to the public was not to travel or ‘balik kampung’ at night as it is the most unsafe time; to select a safe route, drive courteously and not switch lane dangerously, have vehicles checked before the long trip and to have a second driver for long journeys.
“Don’t drive too fast as it is better to be late and safe. There is no need to rush,” he said at the launching of the operation at Kubah Ria.
He also advised drivers not to use their phones while driving, but instead to stop by the roadside to attend to calls or messages.
He added that aside from the roads, police will also monitor waterways to ensure safe passage on boats, and that the operators get the passengers to use lifejackets and not to overload their vessels for celebrants travelling home for the festivity.
Meanwhile, he said that the number of road accidents has been on the rise year by year, and hopes that it will decrease this year.
During the last two Ops Selamat (both 15-day duration), cases of damage incurred in accidents increased by eight cases from 667 in 2013 to 685 in 2014; minor accidents remained the same at five cases, serious accidents increased by one to six cases in 2014, fatal accidents increased from 15 to 21 and death toll rose from 19 to 22.
For overall number of accidents in the state from January to June, cases of damage in accidents increased by 561 from 8,332 in 2014 to 8,893 this year; minor accidents decreased from 160 to 131, serious accidents increased by 26 cases from 83 to 109, fatal accidents increased from 184 to 96 and death toll from 195 to 215.
On the number of police personnel working this Raya, Sabtu said out of his force of 7,000, half will be working, those who are not Muslim, as their leave is frozen to allow Muslim celebrants to take leave.