PETALING JAYA - A harrowing statistic emerges as Malaysia approaches the busy Hari Raya holiday season: someone loses their life in a road accident every 1 hour and 56 minutes. This startling figure comes from official statistics compiled from March 14, 2024, to March 18, 2025. Moreover, road accidents occur every 50 seconds, highlighting an alarming trend as millions prepare to travel to their hometowns for the festivities.
Daily accident statistics were released by a Cabinet committee on traffic congestion and road safety starting in March 2024, aiming to raise awareness and curb the rising incidents leading up to key holiday periods. Data analysis from The Star reveals that road accidents peak just before major festivals, dip during celebrations, and then surge again once the festivities conclude as normal traffic patterns resume.
In 2024, the days with the highest accident rates were alarmingly clustered right before Hari Raya Aidilfitri. April 5 witnessed 2,185 accidents, April 4 saw 2,160, and April 6 recorded 2,156 incidents. This trend underscores the increased risk of accidents during holiday travel, firmly reminding citizens of the need for vigilance on the roads.
Post-Hari Raya celebrations, the situation did not improve. A staggering 2,146 accidents were reported just four days later on April 15, as many rushed to return to their daily lives. An analysis of the weekly accident pattern indicated that Mondays are the most dangerous days for drivers, averaging 1,803 accidents, followed closely by Fridays at 1,802, and Tuesdays at 1,796. Sundays appeared to be safer, with an average of only 1,451 accidents.
However, when examining fatalities, the grid appears inverted; Saturdays and Sundays ranked as the deadliest days, with each averaging 15 fatalities. Following these were Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, which each recorded an average of 14 deaths per day. Tuesdays had the lowest fatalities, averaging 12 deaths. In total, Malaysia saw an average of 1,729 traffic accidents per day throughout 2024, culminating in 14 fatalities per day—raising the national traffic death rate to about 0.8 deaths for every 100 accidents.
Despite these grim statistics, concerted efforts by Malaysian authorities significantly impacted road safety during peak times. Notably, the Ops Selamat 23 operation, enacted over five days from January 28 to February 2 to coincide with Chinese New Year, led to a 10 percent reduction in traffic accidents. That year witnessed 7,882 accidents, a notable decrease from 8,784 occurrences during the same festival in 2024.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced new safety measures on March 10, aiming to maintain the momentum of these improvements. Ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations this year, a ban on goods vehicles operating on the roads will be enforced for four days, specifically on March 29 and 30, as well as April 5 and 6. This proactive step seeks to diminish congestion and reduce the risk of accidents created by the combative mix of freight trucks and private vehicles.
The seriousness of the road safety issue is underscored when viewing Malaysia’s standing within the ASEAN region. According to the Global Burden of Disease 2024 report, Malaysia had the second-highest road fatality rate among ASEAN nations in 2021, reporting 23.7 deaths per 100,000 residents. Only Thailand surpassed this grim metric, which stood at 29.7, while Vietnam followed with a rate of 21.7. Luckily, these countries have witnessed a steady decline in their fatality rates over the past four decades; Malaysia’s rate fell from 31.3 per 100,000 in 1980 to the current 23.7 by 2021.
As festive seasons approach and more travelers hit the roads, it is critical for all motorists to remain vigilant, adhere to traffic regulations, and prioritize road safety measures. The focus from both the government and citizens can play a pivotal role in not only reducing the number of accidents but also saving lives.
