BENTONG: The Transport Ministry is optimistic of halving the number of road fatalities within the next six years, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, adding that the target under the National Road Safety Index was for only two fatalities for every 10,000 vehicles.
Once the target was achieved, he said, the number of deaths roads would be no more than 5,358 cases a year. Otherwise, by 2020, the country could see more than 10,700 cases of fatal accidents each year.
Liow said the index had reduced substantially, from 4.51 fatalities
for every 10,000 vehicles in 2004 to only 2.9 per 10,000 vehicles last year.
“We can achieve the target if we take proactive measures, including exposing young children to road safety,” he said after closing the district level road safety education campaign for primary and secondary schools at SMK Bentong here yesterday.
Liow said the Road Safety Department had also introduced the 2014-2020 Road Safety Plan as part of its commitment to reduce road accidents and deaths.