SEREMBAN: The Transport and Works Ministries are in the process of gazetting a 30km/h speed limit for school zones, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said that, once gazetted, a 500m stretch outside schools would be designated as a 30km/h zone.
"Motorists will not be allowed to exceed the speed limit 250m before the school entrance and another 250m after that.
"This is important as an average of 70 fatalities are recorded in school zones annually and we want to reduce this," he said after launching the Safe School Zone (SSZ) pilot project at SK Taman Seri Pagi and SMK Seri Pagi.
It was earlier reported that the nationwide 30km/h school zone speed limit had remained ungazetted for more than two years after it was approved.
The Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, approved the policy on July 15, 2024.
The government had agreed to set a maximum speed limit of 30km/h in school zones to improve the safety of pupils and other road users.
Loke said safe school zones were important as children were among the most vulnerable road users in such areas.
"Unlike adults, they possess neither the cognitive capacity to accurately gauge vehicle speeds nor the physical resilience to endure the impact of a collision.
"Consequently, it is incumbent upon us to establish a significantly safer environment for them," he said.
He added that the Malaysian Road Safety Council (MKJR), in collaboration with government agencies, local authorities and non-governmental partners, had adopted an approach to reduce vehicle speeds through infrastructure design and interventions in school zones.
"Our objective is to ensure that the roads themselves guide users toward making safer choices.
"This year, the MKJR is implementing this initiative across nine states," Loke said.
Under the safe school zone concept, raised pedestrian crossings will be built to slow vehicles, provide safer access and improve pedestrians' visibility to motorists.
Lanes will also be narrowed to encourage drivers to remain alert, while other protective elements will be installed to improve separation between pedestrians and vehicles.
Median strips or pedestrian refuge islands will provide pedestrians with a safe place to wait while crossing roads.
Appropriate signs and road markings will also be installed to remind motorists of the speed limit.
Schools will be required to prepare traffic management plans, designate pick-up and drop-off areas and install safety barriers where necessary.
Meanwhile, Loke expressed hope that the private sector would support the initiative as part of their corporate social responsibility.
"Since there are more than 10,000 schools nationwide and the MKJR does not have a special allocation for this, we hope others such as private companies will come forward and support the programme," he added.
Loke also commended MKJR and its strategic partner Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety and Commute Initiatives for contributing ideas to make the programme a success.
