Nearly seven in 10 road accidents in Malaysia last year involved individuals aged between 16 and 40, with reckless driving, drunk driving and heavy vehicles remaining the biggest contributors, the government said.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said 69.4% of all road accidents recorded in 2025 involved the age group.
Motorists aged 16 to 20 accounted for the highest number of cases at 6,157, followed by those aged 21 to 25 (5,978), 26 to 30 (4,716) and 31 to 35 (3,640).
Responding to a supplementary question from Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan (PN-Merbok) in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday, Hasbi said accident trends in 2024 showed a similar pattern, while those aged 70 and above accounted for only a small share of cases.
“Heavy vehicles, drunk driving and careless driving are among the main factors contributing to road accidents in the country,” he said.
On calls to make health screenings mandatory for drivers aged 70 and above when renewing their licences, Hasbi said the Transport Ministry is studying international best practices but stressed that current evidence does not support age-based mandatory health checks.
He said studies by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and international findings show no conclusive evidence that compulsory medical examinations based solely on age significantly reduce road accidents.
Hasbi added that age alone should not determine a person’s ability to drive, noting that many senior citizens remain healthy and capable of driving safely, while blanket restrictions could affect their mobility and access to essential services.
