General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) launches road safety campaign

The General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) and the Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) have recently come together in launching the year-long PIAM-MTA 2022 Nationwide Road Safety Campaign in Kuala Lumpur.

The campaign with the theme “steadybrader” aims to educate and remind road users on the importance of road safety.  The total number of road accidents and fatalities are also hoped to be reduced by positively encouraging drivers to drive safely and steadily on the road.

Key government agencies, academicians from universities, organisations, representatives of member companies from different associations, and other media representatives participated in the event through the Zoom virtual platform.

Chairman of PIAM, Anthony Lee started off his speech by asserting the importance of road safety not only locally, but globally. He mentioned that road safety is among the reason for the World Health Organisation (WHO) calling the issue a public health crisis.

He said, “according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 1.25 million people globally perish every year due to road accidents. It is also the number one cause of death among youths aged between 15-29 years. By 2030, the WHO predicts that road traffic injuries will rise to become the fifth leading cause of death.”.

 He also added that “Latest statistics from 2019 as provided by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) confirmed the total of 6167 fatalities due to road accidents; which amounts to about 17 fatalities per day due to road accidents. According to the Ministry of Transport, more than 80% of road accidents are due to “negligence.” These statistics on road accidents goes to show that this is a significant issue that has been ongoing and needs to be put to a stop.

Various activities have been planned out for the year-long campaign including:

•  Education programmes and quizzes on road safety

• Community outreach initiative through gamification and utilisation of digital media

• Collaborative efforts with government agencies and private organisations who share the same objective of reducing road accidents and fatalities

In delivering a keynote speech, YBhg. Datuk Lokman bin Jamaan, the Director of Enforcement Division of the Road Transport Department (JPJ) listed out some of the main causes to road accidents which includes speeding, using handphones while driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving against the flow of traffic and making illegal turns. He stresses again on the importance of road safety.

Before wrapping things up, a panel discussion titled ‘Road Safety – “A Shared Responsibility” was held as part of the launching of the campaign. The list of panellist for the discussion session included YBhg. Datuk Lokman bin Jamaan, Director of Enforcement Division of the Road Transport Department (JPJ), YDH. Supt Dr Bakri bin Haji Zainal Abidin, Principal Assistance Director (Enforcement), Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department of the Royal Malaysia Police, Bukit Aman (PDRM), Mr. Antony Lee, PIAM Chairman; and Encik Mohamed Sabri bin Ramli, MTA Deputy Chairman.

To conclude the event, PIAM and MTA agreed that the fight to reduce road accidents is a shared responsibility from government ministries, government agencies, private sectors, non-governmental organizations, down to ordinary citizens. PIAM and MTA also welcome government agencies and private sectors to aid them in saving lives by sharing their ideas on ways to reduce road accidents.