Penang Steps Up Road Safety Efforts to Curb Motorcycle Fatalities

Penang ramps up road safety initiatives after data shows motorcyclists account for 80% of road fatalities. New strategies target safer commuting.

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Penang is facing a growing crisis on its roads, with recent statistics revealing that 80 per cent of the state’s road deaths involve motorcyclists. State Infrastructure and Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari described the situation as deeply concerning and called for urgent intervention to reverse the trend.

According to data from the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso), commuting accidents among employees have doubled over the past two decades. In 2023 alone, Perkeso recorded 38,458 commuting accidents. This is a staggering 54 per cent increase compared to the 17,609 cases reported in 2003.

“The Commuting Safety Management System (CAMS) study shows that 59 per cent of accidents happen on the way to work, while 41 per cent occur during the journey home. These findings align with Perkeso’s statistics, which indicate that 52.1 per cent of accidents happen en route to work and 36 per cent on the return trip,” Zairil said at the World Day for Safety & Health at Work – Towards Safer Commuting 2025 event in Penang.

He further noted that 68.8 per cent of the incidents involved workers on morning shifts. More than half of these accidents took place within five kilometres of the workplace. “Clearly, the country needs a new approach to achieve better and different results,” he added.

Zairil praised Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd for developing the CAMS programme. He further noted that the Penang government is proud to support the initiative. This support was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between USM and the state government.

Under the MoU, Penang will establish a CAMS Programme Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Divisional Secretary of the State Economic Planning Division (BPEN), and adopt CAMS as an official safety initiative under the Penang Road Safety Council.

The CAMS pilot project at Batu Kawan Industrial Park (BKIP) has already shown promising outcomes. Focused intervention over the past five years resulted in zero accidents among new employees during a 10-month period. This is a significant improvement, given that previously, many workers were involved in accidents within just two to four weeks of employment.

“Moreover, the introduction of safety gloves through Intermediate Level Safety Riding training under CAMS has reduced hand injuries among workers,” Zairil highlighted.

He credited the success of the project to strong collaboration between USM, the Penang government, and industry players. USM leads in data collection, monitoring, and intervention, while the Penang government facilitates agency and industry engagement. Industry partners actively implement interventions, monitor rider safety, and share critical data.

The CAMS project developed a systematic reporting platform, using mobile and web-based applications to enable real-time reporting and faster data analysis for proactive responses.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility,” Zairil stressed. “Each of us has a role to play. Only through collective commitment can we ensure safer journeys for all Malaysians.”