Kuala Lumpur: The government is set to implement a new regulation to reduce the maximum speed limit in school zones from 50 to 30 kilometres per hour (km/h) in an effort to enhance the safety of students. Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that the process of gazetting this change is in progress following a policy decision by the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Congestion.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Loke explained that the Cabinet Committee has based its decision on scientific studies indicating that lowering the speed limit to 30 km/h significantly reduces the risk of fatalities in accidents. He highlighted a concerning statistic, noting that each additional 10 km/h increment increases the risk of death in accidents. The announcement was made following the 61st Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Road Safety Council (MKJR).
In addition to the speed limit reduction, Loke stressed the importance of enhancing road infrastructure around school zones. He pointed out the need for installing warning signs and yellow lines to alert drivers, encouraging them to slow down. The minister revealed that there are, on average, 70 fatal accidents in school zones each year, underscoring the urgency of these measures.
Furthermore, Loke mentioned that the MKJR meeting focused on community-driven road safety initiatives, such as the My Safe Road programme. This programme targets high-risk areas with interventions designed to reduce fatalities and serious injuries in road accidents.
He also noted that MKJR would concentrate on the Safe School Zone and the Road Safety Leadership Fellowship Programme. These initiatives aim to cultivate young leaders who can lead road safety projects based on the Safe System Approach. Minister Loke asserted that while this approach has proven successful in reducing road fatalities in developed nations, it requires a shift in perspective. The focus should extend beyond simply blaming driver attitudes to improving the entire system, including road conditions, vehicle speed limits, and law compliance.