WORKS Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said over 80% of road accidents in Malaysia are caused by driver behaviour, not poor road conditions.
Citing MIROS data, he noted that of over 500,000 recorded accidents, only 12–13% were due to road or weather factors, while most stemmed from reckless driving. Nanta urged greater public awareness and safer driving habits, especially avoiding distractions and speeding.
“Based on findings from MIROS, of more than 500,000 accident cases, there were 12,000 serious injuries and 6,000 deaths — 4,000 of them involving motorcyclists.
“Only around 12 to 13 per cent are due to road factors, including damage and weather. In contrast, more than 80 per cent are due to driver behaviour,” he said in an interview with Mingguan Malaysia published today.
He referenced a recent Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) bus crash in Perak, where investigations showed the bus was travelling nearly twice the speed limit.
“According to the official report from the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the viral dashcam footage, the accident happened due to speeding.
“The speed limit in that area is 60 km/h, but the bus was travelling at 117 km/h, nearly double,” he said.
The minister stressed the need to change driver attitudes alongside ongoing road maintenance efforts.
“There needs to be more advocacy to drivers to ensure safety while driving, including not using mobile phones,” he added. —Aug 3, 2025
Main image: RECODA
