Federal traffic police refute death toll claim
KUALA LUMPUR: The federal traffic police have refuted claims by the Road Transport Safety Department that there have been 70,000 deaths from traffic accidents between 2001 and 2010.
Federal deputy traffic chief Asst Comm Mohd Fuad Abd Latiff said there have been 63,167 accident fatalities, based on police records.
Road Transport Safety Department (JKJR) director-general Leslie Leon had cited the 70,000 figure in an article in The Star yesterday.
“We are trying very hard to reduce deaths from accidents and JKJR should cross-check its statistics with us before releasing a statement that blows up the numbers,” he said.
ACP Mohd Fuad said among the steps taken to reduce traffic accidents were joint operations with other traffic enforcement agencies like the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).
Commenting on the Automated Enforcement System (AES) he said the camera helped reduce accidents to a certain extent.
“But when motorists are aware of the exact location of a speed trap, they may only abide by the law in the vicinity of the camera and go back to speeding after passing the camera,” he said.
He said road users must change their mentality and be more cautious and law abiding for accidents to be reduced nationwide.
It was reported in The Star yesterday that the Automated Enforcement System (AES) had changed the behaviour for the better.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/11/17/nation/12334526&sec=nation