INGENIEUR
Road Safety
T
he wave of expansion of road networks
since Malaysia’s independence has brought
prosperity to the country. However, the
alarming rate of road accidents over the last
decade has not abated in spite of the continuous
effort by the Government in introducing legislations
and traffic calming measures for safer roads.
Road traffic injuries place a heavy burden on the
national economy as well as on households.
It is thus timely that this issue focuses on
road safety as engineers are involved in road
planning, design and maintenance. The World
Health Organisation (WHO) Report 2015 highlights
the important role of safe infrastructure and safe
vehicles in reducing road traffic injuries. The United
Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 2015
sets a target to halve the number of global deaths
and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2020. It
is a steep curve but if all stakeholders work with
greater commitment, we can achieve that goal.
The International Road A s se s sment
Programme (iRAP) in Malaysia undertaken by
the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research
(MIROS) presents a new holistic approach to road
safety where each stakeholder in the programme
4 6
VOL
2017
VOL 70
55 APRIL-JUNE
JUNE 2013
has its role and responsibility as detailed in the
article entitled “Towards Safer Roads”.
Safe vehicles are among the four elements
cited by WHO for the Safe Systems Approach to
road safety apart from safe speeds, safe road
users and safe roads. The important technical
aspects of new cars are well explained in the
article on “New Car Assessment Programme for
Southeast Asian Countries”. In the same vein, the
article on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) looks into
issues of vehicles’ life cycle and why a policy on
ELV should be formulated in the near future.
Amidst the fast pace of road construction
projects, the article on the nostalgic “Gotong
Royong Road Project in Kg Seri Rembau, Negeri
Sembilan, 1952” is a good reflection of the true
kampong spirit among villagers for community
work. Such shared-value activity is hardly
observed in urban areas nowadays. It is a spirit
that should be treasured and promoted among
the younger generation in an effort to carry on the
national heritage.
Dato’ Sri Ir. Dr Roslan bin Md Taha
President BEM