Nearly double the number of summonses issued in Op Selamat this year, say cops

KUALA LUMPUR: The latest iteration of Op Selamat saw almost double the number of summonses issued compared to the same period last year.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Comm Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri, at the Op Selamat 21 closing ceremony Friday (Feb 16), said that a total of 201,840 summonses were issued throughout the six-day operation which ended Feb 13.

This showed a 96% (98,726 summonses) increase compared to Ops Selamat 19 which was held during the 2023 Chinese New Year period.

"This shows that road user awareness of road laws and rules was still low. This increase is also due to the JSPT focusing on blackspot areas; areas with a high rate of accidents.

"The results have led to a reduction in fatal accidents at those locations during this Ops Selamat period," he said at the Police Training Centre(Pulapol) here.

In total, fatal accidents were reduced by one case and nine deaths compared to Ops Selamat 19.

"Cases that led to serious injuries have also dropped this year to 40 cases compared to the recorded 52 cases last year," he said.

Records showed that motorcyclists and pillion riders were the victims of most fatal accidents during the operation period, making up 74% of the total fatalities (67 deaths).

Home break-ins have also been reduced by 34 cases or 12.9%.

"As a whole, Op Selamat 21, which lasted from Feb 8 till Feb 13, has achieved its goal. The JSPT, via its 'omni presence' approach, has also helped manage and smoothen the flow of traffic," he said.

Regarding the confusion on the use of "smart lanes" during the operation period, Comm Mohd Ahmad said that more public engagements by both the police and highway concessionaires would be mulled.

"As we know there was also that accident case at a smartlane that had gone viral and perhaps more advocacy work is required by the concessionaires and police.

"These smart lanes are not active constantly and are only in operation on certain days and times when we need to manage traffic flow," he said.