Alliance Urges Public To Embrace ‘Vision Zero’ For Safe Hari Raya Journeys

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Road users have been urged to adopt the “Vision Zero” approach, which emphasises that all road accidents are preventable and that no loss of life on the roads is acceptable.

Chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community, Lee Lam Thye, said the spike in road accidents and fatalities during festive periods, particularly the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri, remains a persistent concern.

According to him, tens of thousands of accidents are recorded within a week of festive travel each year, with figures exceeding 20,000 cases and resulting in hundreds of deaths nationwide.

“These are not mere numbers. They represent fathers, mothers, children and friends whose lives are cut short or permanently changed. This must stop,” he said in a statement today.

Lee said road safety should never be treated as optional, but rather as a shared responsibility among all road users to ensure safer journeys for everyone during the festive season.

He also urged motorists to plan their journeys, ensure their vehicles are in good condition, avoid speeding and take adequate rest to prevent fatigue while driving.

In addition, he stressed the importance of not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, avoiding mobile phone use while driving and ensuring all passengers wear seatbelts and that children are secured in appropriate restraints.

“Safety is not an accident. It is a choice we make every time we get behind the wheel. This Raya, let us choose life, responsibility, and care for ourselves and for others,” he said.

Lee said achieving an accident-free festive season requires not only enforcement but also a shift in mindset, with cooperation from government agencies, enforcement bodies, non-governmental organisations and the public.

-- BERNAMA