| James Kon |
TEN drivers were each compounded BND200 and 12 Driver Safety Practice System (SiKAP) demerit points for using mobile phones while driving during operations carried out by the Land Transport Department (JPD) in April and May this year alone.
This upward trend in mobile usage on the roads was highlighted by the Minister of Communications, Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof in his speech as the guest of honour during the launch for Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society’s (BDRCS) Building Resilient Community Towards Vision 2035 programme and related road safety campaigns yesterday morning.
“Similarly, the habit of not wearing seatbelts while driving is one of the issues that we need to improve on,” he said.
Citing a World Health Organization survey, the minister highlighted that in the event of accidents, seatbelts can reduce the risk of death by “40 to 50 per cent for drivers and passengers in the front of the vehicle, while for rear seat passengers, the risk is reduced by 25 per cent”.
The habit of not using seatbelts, “is still widespread among drivers in the country”, Awang Abdul Mutalib said. “This was seen in April and May traffic operations conducted by the Land Transport Department, where compound fines of BND150 and nine demerit points were issued to at least 17 drivers for not fastening their seatbelts,” he said adding that the issue “is very concerning to the Ministry of Communications”.
The minister also voiced his concerns on the similarly worrying issue of driving under the influence of alcohol.
He explained, “This year alone, two cases of fatal accidents were recorded resulting from drivers under the influence of alcohol. Among these involved one of the saddest and most serious cases in which the victim who passed away was only a youth.”
The minister stressed his belief that the implementation of the BDRCS’s road safety campaigns will help reduce the frequency of road accidents in the country.
“I believe the campaigns will go a long way in effectuating long-term benefits, especially in the raising of personal safety awareness and good driving practices among the motorists,” he said.
The Minister of Communications who is also the Chairman of the Brunei National Road Safety Council (BNRSC), urged other non-government organisations to implement their own initiatives to promote road safety awareness and education.
Recounting the BDRCS’s collaborations on road safety with other stakeholders throughout the years, the minister said, “As an association established 70 years ago, the involvement of the BDRCS with the Ministry of Communications is nothing new. In 2012, the association worked together with the BNRSC on the Road Safety Pledging programme, which focussed on five key accident reducing requirements – using seatbelts, adhering to the speed limit, refraining from mobile phone use while driving, using pedestrian paths, and refraining from tailgating.”