Advocates urge targeting risky behaviour beyond intoxication
PETALING JAYA: Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious road safety issue but enforcement should tackle all fronts, say road safety advocates.
They said these were mostly speeding, reckless driving and poor riding etiquette, with human error, traffic violations and structural risks all playing a role alongside DUI.
Vehicle Theft and Accident Reduction Council coordinator Mas Tina Abdul Hamid said road safety strategies driven by data-based insights were necessary to target behaviours and conditions accounting for road crash fatalities.
Referencing official figures and verified reports, she said Malaysia continued to record high numbers of road accident fatalities through the years.
She said a closer examination of causal factors revealed that the majority of fatal crashes were attributable to human error, risky behaviour and systemic road safety deficiencies rather than intoxication alone.
“Failure to observe nearby vehicles, unsafe manoeuvres at intersections, overtaking recklessly and driver distraction or fatigue remain the leading contributor to road fatalities in Malaysia.
“Vulnerable road users, particularly motorcyclists, account for the majority of fatalities, highlighting structural and behavioural risk factors,” she said.
Last year, Parliament was told that of the 6,080 fatal accidents recorded in 2022, 14 or 0.23% were linked to DUI. Of the 6,473 fatal accidents in 2023, 13 or 0.2% were linked to DUI.
In 2024, 12 deaths were linked to DUI out of the 6,464 fatal accidents, with two deaths linked to DUI out of 3,087 between January and June 2025.
“However, this does not diminish the urgency of eradicating DUI. It underscores the need for addressing road safety holistically,” said Mas Tina.
She said road safety strategies must cover speeding, distracted driving, unsafe overtaking and traffic signal violations.
“Automated enforcement cameras, high-visibility patrols and consistent application of penalties are essential,” she said.
She said education campaigns that engage drivers emotionally and intellectually were also essential.
“Dangerous road segments, black spots and poorly maintained routes should also be upgraded appropriately.
“Vehicle inspections, commercial fleet compliance and the adoption of safety and technological measures such as emergency braking, dashcams and lane departure warnings are equally critical,” she added.
Access to safe alternatives such as ride-hailing, public transport and community shuttle programmes could reduce exposure to risky driving behaviour, said Mas Tina.
Road Safety Council of Malaysia executive council member Datuk Suret Singh said the elephant in the room was how motorcyclists continued to form the bulk of road accident fatalities.
“We can talk about improving laws to ensure compliance here but any law is only as good as its enforcement.
“Are we doing the right thing to address this? Is our approach wrong?” he said.
He proposed enforcing only left lane use for motorcyclists and imposing a 70kph speed limit.
“Studies show that accidents involving riders mostly involve those in mixed traffic. The proposed measures can be done swiftly and will drastically reduce accident fatality rates,” he said.
Another proposed measure includes creating more exclusive motorcycle lanes, he added.
“They should run parallel with existing roads as the same amenities such as proper lighting and drainage systems can be employed concurrently.
“It can start at the state level and at hotspots identified by the authorities. Building a network of motorcycle lanes does take time but we must start somewhere,” he added.
