Fatigue, mobile phone use among top causes of road accidents

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have identified three main causes of road accidents – poor attitude of drivers, fatigue and using mobile phones while driving, says Inspector-Gen­eral of Police Tan Sri Moha­mad Fuzi Harun.

“We are focusing on eradicating traffic offences, especially driving on the emergency lane, cutting queue, speeding, using mobile phone while driving and jumping the red light,” he said after launching Ops Selamat 13/2018 for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations at Menara TM yesterday.

The operation will also use the theme Rumah selamat, selamat sampai ke destinasi (A safe home, a safe journey) coined for Ops Selamat 12/2018 during Chinese New Year earlier this year.

Mohamad Fuzi said they would collaborate with other agencies such as the Fire and Rescue Depart­ment, Road Transport Department, Malaysian Civil Defence Force and the Health Ministry.

He said they hoped to reduce the number of road accidents recorded in Ops Selamat for the Hari Raya period in 2016 and 2017.

He said the number of accidents generally increased as there were more cars on the road each year.

He also said leave for 80% of the police force had been frozen during Hari Raya.

“That means 93,600 personnel, including 6,400 PLUS traffic police, will be on duty,” he said.

Besides traffic enforcement and monitoring operations, police will conduct more patrols to minimise house break-ins during the balik kampung exodus.

“We urge everyone going back to their hometowns to register at the nearest police station so that we can help keep an eye on their houses while they are away,” he said.

Registration can be done manually by visiting a police station or using the Volunteer Smartphone Patrol mobile app.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Fuzi thanked Telekom Malaysia for sponsoring this Ops Selamat, as well as Anih Bhd for donating 14 vehicles – four Mitsubishi Outlanders, four Mitsubishi ASXs and six Proton Preves – for the operation.

He also thanked PLUS Malaysia Bhd for donating 15 Mitsubishi Outlanders for the same purpose.

Ops Selamat 13/2018 starts today and ends on June 22.