Road Accidents: It’s Time We Admit the Real Problem

KUALA LUMPUR,Nov 11, 2025: Another week, another tragedy on Malaysian roads. The recent crash involving a Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) bus and a Perodua Alza near Tasik Banding, Gerik, which claimed at least 15 lives and injured dozens more, is yet another grim reminder of how dangerous our roads have become.

Each time such accidents occur, the familiar debate resurfaces — was it the road, the vehicle, or the weather? But Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi’s recent statement cuts through the noise: over 80 per cent of road accidents in Malaysia are caused by driver behaviour, not road conditions.

According to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), of more than half a million accident cases recorded, 12,000 involved serious injuries and 6,000 resulted in deaths — 4,000 of which were motorcyclists. Only about 12 to 13 per cent of these were linked to road factors like potholes or poor weather. The rest, as the data shows, came down to human behaviour — speeding, distraction, recklessness, and a culture of complacency behind the wheel.

Yet, whenever tragedy strikes, many Malaysians are quick to point fingers at the authorities. We blame the roads, the government, or the system. But as Nanta rightly said, “Many are still inclined to blame others and won’t admit their own mistakes.” It’s a hard truth — but one that must be confronted.

Take the Gerik bus crash, for instance. The Transport Ministry’s investigation, backed by viral dashcam footage, found that the bus was travelling at 117 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. That’s not an infrastructure problem. That’s human negligence — pure and simple.

The Works Ministry continues to repair, resurface, and monitor roads nationwide. But no amount of asphalt or signage can fix what’s broken in our driving culture. What Malaysia needs now is not just better roads, but better drivers.

This means stricter enforcement on reckless motorists, mandatory driving refreshers for repeat offenders, and serious consideration of telematics technology — devices that track vehicle speed and driving patterns — especially for commercial and public transport operators. The technology exists. What’s missing is the political will and public discipline to embrace it.

Road safety advocacy must also go beyond campaigns and slogans. It has to start with accountability — from drivers, passengers, and companies alike. Because every time we shrug off responsibility or justify our own bad habits, we’re setting the stage for the next tragedy.

Malaysia’s roads are not the main killers. Our attitudes are. Until that changes, the statistics will continue to climb — and no amount of finger-pointing will bring back the lives already lost.