James Kon
Brunei Darussalam has recorded four road fatalities, including a recent motorcycle accident in the Temburong District and a truck driver who succumbed to a heart attack in the Tutong District from January to February this year.
Haji Syafien bin Yandol from the Secretariat of the National Road Safety Council (MKKJR) mentioned the latest statistics for road fatalities during a briefing for 100 civil servants from the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) yesterday.
Despite that, he said that the number of road accidents has decreased over the years – in 2016, there were 3,375 accidents, which dropped to 2,684 in 2017, 1,203 in 2018 and 1,079 in 2020. Road fatalities also showed a decreasing trend, with 29 recorded in 2017, 17 in 2018, 23 in 2019 and 11 in 2020.
Meanwhile, the number of active vehicles in the country has shown an upward trend with 275,475 in 2016, which then jumped slightly to 277,200 in 2017. In 2018, the number of active vehicles was 282,345, which went up to 289,978 in 2019 and 386,172 in 2020.
The briefing also addressed issues related to ethical driving such as speeding, signalling, violating road traffic rules, keeping to the left unless overtaking, using mobile phones while driving, failure to use seatbelts, and pedestrian crossings.
In areas without any road signs, the specified speed limit is 50km/h, unless in a school zone where the speed limit is 15km/h.
Haji Syafien on vehicle signalling, said, “I would urge road users to turn on the signal at least 100 metres early, before entering a junction.
“On dual carriage roads and when at roundabouts, it is important to use signalling to indicate that you are about to change lanes and enter a junction.”
He said that it is an offence for vehicles to stall in the yellow box at a traffic light stop: “If there is a traffic jam opposite the traffic light signal, road users should wait until it eases, before entering the junction. This should help to reduce traffic congestion.”
On the subject of keeping to the left lane unless overtaking, he said, “The right lane is for overtaking and for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, police cars and fire engines.
“Using mobile phones while driving and failing to use seatbelt continue to happen on a frequent basis, for which offenders can face compound fines of up to BND500 and levied with demerit points.
“Failing to stop and give way at a pedestrian crossing is also an offence, whereby offenders will also be levied with demerit points.”