BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Plans are being made to install Speed Monitoring Devices at several identified locations in September, aimed at displaying and reminding drivers of speed limits while passing through these areas, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Transport) at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications Mohammad Salihin Aspara told a press conference on Wednesday (Aug 20).
The National Road Safety Council (MKKJR) will also launch the National Road Safety Campaign themed ‘Watch Your Speed, Watch The Road’ aimed at enhancing road safety by advising drivers to remain alert, follow speed limits, and pay attention while on the road.
Mohammad Salihin said the council also intends to curb the rising trend of accidents and cultivate a sense of responsibility among road users.
MKKJR urged road users to always comply with traffic rules and regulations. Drivers were also told to remain vigilant, to ensure the driving licence and road tax were valid with vehicles needed to be in proper condition.
It also advised drivers and passengers to wear seat belts, observe speed limits and reduce speed during and after rain and to be vigilant and ensure intersections are clear before entering or making u-turns.
Meanwhile, Acting Director of Traffic Control and Investigation at the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Senior Superintendent Pang Teck Ann shared reports on road accidents in the country, with the reports based on two categories – Motor Claim Guideline (MCG) – accidents involving insurance claims only and Non-Motor Claim Guideline (Non-MCG) – accidents reported to the police.
He shared Non-MCG cases, which are accidents reported and investigated by the RBPF where 1,079 cases were reported and investigated in 2020 and in subsequent years from 2021 to 2024, the figures showed minimal change, with the lowest and highest reported cases being 1,043 and 1,163 per year.
This indicates that the number of accident cases investigated annually by RBPF has remained relatively constant.
He shared top eight categories of accidents where from 2020 to 2024, self-accidents accounted for over 50 per cent of reported incidents; car-to-car collisions reached nearly 30 per cent of reported accidents; hit-and-run incidents represented 10 per cent – often occurring in public parking areas and fatal accidents consistently ranged from 11 to 17 deaths, with the highest being 18 fatalities.
Although fatal accidents make up less than 0.1 per cent of total reported cases, road safety remains a continuous challenge, especially in protecting lives from the three main causes of fatalities, which are speeding – exceeding the set speed limits; not using seat belts – increasing the risk of severe injury or death in collisions and sudden turning at intersections – often causing serious collisions. – Borneo Bulletin/ANN
