Malaysia suffers socio-economic losses of up to RM30 billion annually due to road accidents, according to Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
Nanta said the estimate takes into account the economic value associated with changes in mortality risk, including lost productivity and income, medical costs and the wider impact on families and society.
He said the findings on the socio-economic impact were presented at the Cabinet Committee Meeting on Road Safety and Congestion chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Last year alone, 6,537 people were killed in road accidents, equivalent to an average of 18 deaths a day, while 80.6% of accidents were attributed to human factors, Nanta said.
He stressed that road safety could not be treated as the responsibility of a single ministry, requiring a broader approach involving education, enforcement, technology and safer infrastructure.
“For the Ministry of Works, our position is clear. We do not want to merely repair roads after accidents occur. We want to build and maintain safer roads, reduce risks and minimise human error,” he said.
Nanta said the RM30 billion figure represented more than an economic loss, highlighting the wider impact of road tragedies on society.
“The greatest loss is the loss of loved ones. We cannot regard 18 deaths a day as normal. Every life we save is a victory for the people,” he said.
