28 October 2021 - Media release - Putrajaya

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Office in Malaysia in partnership with the Road Safety Division, Ministry of Transport Malaysia, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Safekids Malaysia Universiti Putra Malaysia, has marked the launch of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021 – 2030.

Recognizing the importance of the problem and the need to act, governments from around the world declared through the UN General Assembly the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with an explicit target to reduce road deaths and injuries by at least 50% during that period. The Global Plan serves as a guiding document to support Member States in the implementation of the Decade of Action 2021-2030 and it’s objectives, as well as a blueprint to guide national and local initiatives. Today’s launch aims to inspire road safety authorities in Malaysia to integrate the activities proposed within the Global Plan into their policies and programmes.  

Director General of the Road Transport Department (RTD), Ministry of Transport Malaysia (MOT), Dato’ Zailani Hj Hashim states that “we support and are willing to be the catalyst for road safety initiatives that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has lauded in the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030. We are fully committed to the Decade of Action and proactive in supporting the five components under the Safe System Approach which are: safe road infrastructure, safe road use, safe vehicles, multimodal transport and land use planning plus post-crash response. With this approach, we will work towards achieving the target set by UN General Assembly Resolution 74/299, which is at least 50% reduction in road traffic death and injuries by 2030”.

Globally, road traffic incidents cause nearly 1.3 million deaths, and Malaysia has the third highest road traffic mortality rate in WHO Western Pacific Region.  Additionally, road traffic injury accounts for 14% of deaths among children aged 5 – 14 years in Malaysia, making it the leading cause of child mortality in the country.

“While this year was marked by our continued efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, we never lost focus on addressing road safety issues and preventing road traffic deaths. WHO is working closely with the government in Malaysia to translate the global targets and initiatives into local solutions that call for participation of all involved stakeholders. From policymakers and partners to individual people, we all play a part in making our roads safer”, stated Dr Lo Ying-Ru Jacqueline, WHO Representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

In Malaysia, there are several road safety initiatives being implemented which reflect the Global Plan.  Activities to improve the safety of vehicles, especially motorcycles, along with improving roading infrastructure are underway. Recently, the Child Restraint System law has been implemented with the aim to reduce fatalities amongst children. 

Safe Kids Malaysia Universiti Putra Malaysia Executive Director Professor Dr. Kulanthayan KC Mani welcomes and praises The Global Plan for this decade as unique as “it adopts a Safe System Approach besides engaging not only with the government agencies, but most importantly also with civil society, private sector and unions to address this traffic pandemic. I look forward for the full implementation of the newly approved Child Restraints System law soon as it was approved way back in 2019 for initial implementation in 2020.”

Tarikh Input: 16/11/2021 | Kemaskini: 19/11/2021 | ahmadmustafa