Materia Medica Malaysiana

Too Many People Hurt In Road Accidents, Says Dr Chua

BATU PAHAT, May 29 (Bernama) -- "Every six minutes, one person is hospitalised due to road accidents," said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, describing the huge number of people injured on Malaysian roads.
The rate, he said, was based on the total of 82,304 people admitted to hospitals nationwide after they were involved in road accidents in 2003 which also saw 6,286 killed.
"What saddens us is five per cent of those killed were children below 12 years old," he told reporters after opening a "DaimlerChrysler Autohaus" operated by BR Jaya Sdn Bhd, here.
Dr Chua said the number of registered vehicles in Malaysia in 2003 was 12.8 million while the number of road accident cases was 268,653 and the losses they caused were estimated to be between RM5.4 billion and RM5.7 billion.
He blamed the attitude of road users in 80 per cent of the cases such as exceeding the speed limit and negligent overtaking.
"I can be said to use the road everyday and I can see drivers committing various offences; they drive as they like," he said.
He said the other 20 per cent was contributed by the lack of safety features in the vehicles and the condition of the roads.