The government is considering a reduction of the speed limit in school zones from the current 40 km/h to 30 km/h, deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday.
The cabinet committee on road safety and traffic congestion, which Zahid chairs, made the proposal in line with the World Health Organisation’s call to curb dangerous speeding, especially in vulnerable spots.
“The federal government will work with local authorities and schools to implement effective speed management systems, such as traverse bars and speed bumps in school zones to slow down the traffic,” he said at the Conference on Asia Road Safety (CARS) 2024 in Putrajaya yesterday, reported by NST.
If proven to be successful in reducing accidents, the authorities might consider expanding the 30 km/h limit. “If this initiative successfully reduces road crashes in school zones, we may consider expanding the 30 km/h limit to other suitable areas within cities to create a safer environment for vulnerable road users,” the DPM added.
This isn’t the first time that a 30 km/h school zone speed limit has been mentioned – in July, Zahid said that on average, 67 people die annually in school zones, and police statistics show that 322 road accidents were reported in school zones nationwide last year.
The Bagan Datuk MP cited international research saying that every 1 km/h of speed reduced would drop the fatality rate by 4-5%, and a speed reduction of 5% could reduce fatal accidents by 30%.
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need to install AES cameras in front of schools (especially primary schools). selfish idiots speeding like no tomorrow when kids are crossing the road. also may need to arm the guards that help control traffic. many cases already where guards get harassed by mindless road users.
enforcement is key. malaysia like to create rules and rules and rules, but zero enforcement. FAIL.
Mandatory to construct elevated zebra crossing cum speed bump similar to sg standard.
You should also install the AES/AWAS cameras in these areas so that people actually adhere to the speed limit. This would be more effective in reducing road fatalities, rather than installing the cameras at expressways.
Tak pernah nampak siapa yang pantau pematuahan
always encounter ppl speeding in residential area despite numerous speedbumps including my friend which gets impatient behind a driver doing 30kmh and overtakes recklessly(a girl somemore)
Thank you. Now enforcers please do your job. Take their license away for those stubborn drivers.
Am in the UK at the moment. It feels absolutely dumb to drive at 20mph (32kmh) in quiet sections with no traffic joining(or 30mph on Westway in London), but in built up areas, it makes absolute sense.
However speed limits are enforced here(with cameras or average speed checks) in the UK so everyone is going at speed limit +10% at best. We can set all the zones we want in Malaysia but if you do not put enforcement cameras they’d just be ignored
What’s the point if there is no enforcement?