Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said that Malaysia must strengthen road safety enforcement to curb commuting incidents.
PETALING JAYA: Road safety enforcement remains weak despite ongoing efforts by the authorities, with several gaps continuing to undermine commuting safety and expose workers to preventable risks on the road, said Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
He added that Malaysia must strengthen road safety enforcement to curb commuting incidents as insufficient enforcement personnel, inconsistent monitoring and persistent traffic violations continue to endanger workers travelling to and from their workplaces.
“Commuting accidents remain a major concern as they account for a significant proportion of workplace-related accidents reported to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) each year.
“This highlights that road safety is not merely a transport issue, but also an occupational safety and public health concern that requires urgent attention,” he told theSun.
Lee said despite ongoing enforcement efforts, several weaknesses continue to undermine road safety outcomes, including poor coordination between enforcement agencies and employers as well as the low perceived risk among motorists of being caught for certain traffic offences.
He added that enforcement alone would not be enough if road infrastructure defects, poor road design, inadequate lighting and poorly maintained vehicles are not addressed simultaneously.
“Without effective enforcement, laws and regulations lose their deterrent effect, allowing dangerous driving behaviour to continue unchecked.
“Strong and consistent enforcement is needed to deter speeding, reckless overtaking, tailgating, distracted driving, mobile phone use behind the wheel and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” he said.
Lee added that effective enforcement also promotes greater compliance with road safety regulations, including the use of seat belts and helmets, vehicle roadworthiness requirements and adherence to traffic laws.
“Stronger enforcement would also help reduce the human and economic costs of road accidents, including fatalities, injuries, medical expenses, productivity losses and long-term disabilities.”
To improve commuting safety, Lee proposed increasing the visibility and frequency of enforcement operations during peak travelling hours, while expanding the use of automated technologies such as speed cameras, red-light cameras and artificial intelligence-powered traffic monitoring systems.
He also called for stricter enforcement against distracted driving, particularly the use of mobile phones behind the wheel, as well as targeted operations at accident-prone locations and high-risk commuter routes.
“Employers also have a role to play by implementing commuting safety programmes, defensive driving training and flexible working arrangements that could help reduce exposure to peak-hour traffic risks.”
Citing Socso data, Lee said 46,542 of the 91,456 workplace accident cases recorded in 2025 involved workers commuting to and from their workplaces. Many of the incidents involved motorcyclists and resulted in the deaths of family breadwinners, underscoring the seriousness of the issue.
He also called for stricter penalties for repeat offenders who endanger other road users, improvements in road engineering and maintenance to eliminate hazards that contribute to accidents, stronger vehicle inspections, particularly for commercial vehicles and motorcycles, as well as better data sharing among Socso, the Road Transport Department, the police and other road safety agencies to identify accident trends and risk factors.
“Commuting accidents are not inevitable. Most are preventable through a combination of effective enforcement, safer roads, responsible driving behaviour and greater public awareness.
“It is time to treat commuting safety as a national priority. Every life lost on the journey to or from work is one life too many.
“By strengthening enforcement and adopting a more proactive approach to road safety, we can significantly reduce commuting accidents and ensure that workers arrive at their destinations safely every day.”
