KyO's NeWs - No LeT-Up In RoaD AcCiDenTs

~ BorNeO BuLLeTiN ~

~ 28/02/2011 ~

Car lies on its side following the accident along the highway in Tutong District.
Three-car accident along Anduki road left a 60-year-old man with injuries.

Road accidents in Brunei show no signs of abating, which is a worrying sign.

Based on police log, in the month of February alone, nearly 215 accidents were recorded with 58 during a stretch of just four days.

Yesterday, two accidents were reported along the Tutong-Muara highway and Seria-Tutong highway in Tutong District with one sustaining serious injuries.

On Saturday night, a 60-year-old Bruneian man was injured in a collision involving three vehicles.

The crash, involving a SUV vehicle, a van and a saloon vehicle, occurred along the Anduki road at about 10pm.

With the increase in accidents, many people are eager that the Brunei Darussalam Road Safety Action Plan is implemented more speedily and vigorously to save lives and limbs.

The people appreciate the initiatives the authorities have taken especially the proposed establishment of the Centre for Road Safety Studies launched at Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) to conduct research and come out with a plan to curb the accident numbers.

They also welcomed the suggestion of road safety briefing in schools at different levels.

Awang Mohd Ansor, 32, a local teacher told the Borneo Bulletin, "More and more young people are having cars these days.

"They feel the false power when behind the wheel. They are also immature and sometimes are unable to control their emotions. Accidents therefore happen. There should be more frequent road safety lectures and games in schools."

Mohd Nur Azmi bin Haji Md Yussop, 28, who works for Baiduri Finance, said, "There have been increasing accidents among young motorists recently. I welcome a move towards more intensive education.

"We pick up bad habits when we are young and these could be with us for life. So early education is important," he added.

"The standard of our driving schools should also be improved," he said.
A nurse at RIPAS Hospital, Dayang Yazmin Abdul Latip, commented, "We see more youths coming in with accident injuries in recent times. I agree early intervention at home and in schools is very important."

It is noted that as far back as in year 2004/2005, a road safety expert from Asian Development Bank visited Brunei to prepare a guideline for road safety action when a 14-sector action plan was set up whereby each agency responsible was to conduct the action plan.

In October 2007, Brunei Road Safety Council with the support of ITB analysed the road safety action plan at the national level focusing on immediate action in the short term as well as a continued plan.

Since then Brunei has continued its efforts to implement Brunei Road Safety Action Plan with new initiatives, but at a slower pace than desired, some safety conscious citizens said.

Immediate and short-term implementation plans included the introduction of de-merit points system, speed camera (stationary), expanding the Road Safety Secretariat and capacity building for driving school.

However, some observers have pointed out that there is a need for better coordination among various departments to stem the rising number of accidents.