ROAD accidents in Malaysia continue to climb, with 273,668 crashes recorded in the first four months of this year after the country hit a record in 2025, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke (pic).
Loke said police data showed a worrying upward trend over the past three years, with road accidents rising from 739,877 cases in 2023 to 778,159 in 2024, before reaching a record 790,614 last year – an average annual increase of 3.39%.
“Based on the analysis, passenger cars remain the dominant vehicle type involved in road accidents, accounting for between 60% and 70% of all cases,” he said in a written parliamentary reply.
Loke said motorcycle-related accidents have also continued to rise, recording an average annual increase of 5.83%.
“Although motorcycle accidents are fewer than those involving passenger cars, they account for more than 65% of road fatalities each year,” he added.
Bicycle accidents, meanwhile, remained the lowest and largely unchanged over the period, contributing just 0.5% to 0.6% of total road accidents annually.
Turning to enforcement, Loke said the government remains committed to strictly policing drink-driving and ensuring compliance with road safety regulations.
“The authority to determine the appropriate charges based on the facts and evidence of each case lies with the Attorney-General as Public Prosecutor under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution,” he said.
He added that the government is studying amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 to empower courts to order offenders convicted of serious traffic offences to compensate accident victims or their next of kin.
“The proposed amendments are intended to strengthen the country’s road safety framework by not only punishing offenders, but also providing a clearer mechanism for victims and their families to obtain compensation,” he said.
Loke explained that the proposed compensation mechanism would complement, rather than replace, civil suits, insurance claims and other legal remedies by allowing courts to order compensation during criminal proceedings.
He added that the government is also reviewing the Act to ensure penalties remain proportionate to the severity of offences and continue to serve as an effective deterrent.
Loke said the Kejara demerit points system would continue to play a key role in identifying high-risk drivers and discouraging repeat offenders before dangerous behaviour results in loss of life.
