MIRI (May 6): Road safety must be embraced as a shared responsibility by all road users, as accident figures in Sarawak and Miri continue to show worrying trends, said State Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.

Speaking at a road safety campaign organised by Endaya Construction Sdn Bhd on Monday, Lee stressed that road safety is not solely the responsibility of enforcement agencies, but a collective duty involving drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.

“Behind every statistic is a life, a family and a story. Road safety is not just about rules and regulations, it is about protecting lives,” he said.

Highlighting key figures, Lee revealed that from January to March 2026, Sarawak recorded 5,609 road accidents, including 99 fatal cases that claimed 107 lives.

“Most incidents involved property damage, reflecting the overall level of risk and lack of caution among road users,” he said.

Focusing on Miri, he noted that accident cases rose to 1,165 between January and April 2026, compared with 1,120 during the same period last year — a 4 per cent increase.

More concerning, he said, was the rise in fatal accidents, which increased from 14 to 19 cases, while deaths went up from 15 to 20.

“These figures clearly show that road safety is not just a national or state issue, but one that directly affects our local community,” he said.

Lee added that several accident-prone locations in Miri have been identified, including Jalan Miri By-Pass, Jalan Kuala Baram By-Pass, Jalan Persisiran Pantai, Jalan Pan Borneo and Jalan Miri–Airport.

Blackspot areas with higher occurrences of serious and fatal accidents include Jalan Beraya, parts of Jalan Pan Borneo in Suai, and stretches along Jalan Miri By-Pass near Emart Riam.

Among the main contributing factors are driver negligence, poor road conditions and inadequate street lighting in certain areas.

Lee emphasised that as Sarawak continues to develop and traffic volume increases, greater vigilance is required from all parties.

He also highlighted the role of construction companies in ensuring safety, particularly in managing work zones with proper signage and traffic control.

“Work zones, if not properly managed, can pose significant risks. At the same time, road users must slow down, follow instructions and be patient when approaching these areas,” he said.

He assured that the state government will continue to support initiatives to enhance road safety awareness and enforcement, but stressed that lasting change depends on cultivating a strong safety culture.

“Road safety begins with you and me,” said Lee, urging all parties to work together towards safer roads.

Also present at the campaign was Endaya Construction Sdn Bhd director, Ir Peter Wong Hung Huang.

Credits: Jacqueline Raphael, The Borneo Post 2026