Plan to Prevent 32,000 Deaths and Serious Injuries in Malaysia

Malaysian Minister for Transport Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has thrown his support behind a plan that could prevent 1 in 3 deaths and serious injuries across 3,700km of highways.

The iRAP Malaysia report identifies cost-effective countermeasures such as removal of roadside hazards, central hatching to separate opposing flows of high-speed traffic and motorcycle lanes. For every $1 invested in the plan, it is estimated that there would be a return of $16 in crash costs avoided.

The official launch of the report was supported by Make Roads Safe campaign ambassador Michelle Yeoh and Malaysian Deputy Works Minister Yong Khoon Seng. Speaking at the event, Michelle Yeoh said "We need our roads to be safe for our people, for our children, for our breadwinners. A few seconds in a road crash will cause them a lifetime of grief."

iRAP Malaysia is led by AAM, JKR, JKJR, and MIROS. The full iRAP Malaysia report can be downloaded at www.irap.org/library.aspx.

October 2009.