FEWER ACCIDENTS IN FIRST 9 DAYS ON OPS SELAMAT

KUALA LUMPUR: There were fewer fatal accidents and deaths on the road during the first nine days of Op Selamat operation compared with previous years, said Bukit Aman traffic police chief Datuk Abd Aziz Yusof. However, Aziz said motorcyclists remained a main concern for the authorities as they accounted for more than 60 per cent of deaths in road accidents. "We would like to advise motorcyclists to ride safe and plan their journey ahead to avoid rushing at the last minute," he told the New Sunday Times yesterday. "With Op Selamat, we aim to create awareness on road safety and practise safe driving to avoid road accidents involving motorcyclists." A total of 1,800 enforcement officers are involved in the 15-day Op Selamat, from Aug 1 to Aug 18, which is being carried out to safeguard road users and their homes during the Aidilfitri festive season. Road Transport Department (RTD) director-general Datuk Ismail Ahmad said RTD would reveal the statistics for road accidents and fatalities at the end of the operation on Aug 18. Last year, 17,937 accidents were reported nationwide during Op Selamat, a decline of 1,669 cases compared with 2011. The number of fatal accidents and deaths decreased by about 12.7 per cent -- 243 deaths were reported last year during the Raya period, compared with 289 in 2011.