KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu recorded a total of 572 accidents, including four fatalities, during the Ops Selamat in conjunction with the Hari Raya Puasa season this year.
State deputy police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Hashim Abdul Jalil said that the traffic operation on July 10 to 24 also saw Kuala Terengganu district recording the highest number of accidents with 188 cases during the period, with 71 cases just on July 19 alone.
"As for accidents on the East Coast Highway 2, there were 56 cases. Dungun and Kemaman districts recorded the highest number with 17 cases each.
"State roads recorded 114 accidents, city roads 93 cases and other roads 45 cases," he told newsmen at the handing-over of duties ceremony by state public order and traffic chief Assistant Commissioner Alias Hashim, at the state police headquarters in Jalan Sultan Omar.
Assistant Superintendent Ismail Man will be the acting state public order and traffic chief while awaiting for the proper appointment to take place.
Hashim said that a majority of the accidents numbering 142 cases involved vehicles crashing into the rear of other vehicles.
"Overall, the Ops Selamat this year saw a 12 per cent drop of 76 cases as compared with the total of 648 cases for last year. There was also a 25 per cent drop of four fatalities this year as compared with 16 fatalities last year," he said.
Meanwhile, Alias, who has been promoted from superintendent, will be the deputy commander of the Federal Reserve Unit at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.
A career officer with 38 years’ service, Alias served in Kuala Terengganu for 16 years.