Deputy minister: More accidents because more vehicles

18.5 million registered vehicles, with 700,000 more yearly. — file pic

An increase of 700,000 vehicles each year is among the contributory factors that lead to a higher accident rate, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.

He said according to present Road Transport Department records there were 18.5 million vehicles registered in the country.

“The number increases the risk of accidents as everyone wants their own vehicle to the point of not placing importance on public transportation as compared to developed countries like South Korea,” he told reporters at the launch of the “Kempen Rakan Trafik” campaign at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here this morning.

On the Automated Enforcement System (AES) to be implemented to reduce road accidents, Abdul Rahim said the government as a matter of policy had approved its use.

“The AES is a system where cameras are installed at high-accident prone areas to monitor speeding and record driving violations. For a start, 600-700 cameras will be installed in stages in areas identified in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.

The AES system has been widely used in developed countries like the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. — Bernama