Kota Kinabalu: Sabah recorded an increase of seven per cent in the number of road accidents during “Op Selamat” held in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebration this year, totalling 508 cases, compared to 472 cases during a similar operation last year.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah said the number of fatal accidents, however, dropped to only six cases this year, from 14 cases last year.
He said during the 10-day operation, which ended on May 8, the Sabah police also issued 6,376 summonses to motorists for various traffic offences, compared to 16,969 summonses last year.
A total of RM65,300 in compound was also collected during the period, while 33 arrest cases involving offences under the Road Transport Act (30 cases), the Penal Code (two cases) and the National Registration Act (one case) were recorded during the period, he said in a statement, Tuesday.
Although “Op Selamat” 18/22 had ended, he said, the police would continue with measures to reduce the number of road accidents in the State.
Meanwhile, the highest number of fatal accidents recorded nationwide since “Op Selamat” began on April 29 in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri involves motorcyclists and pillion riders with 88 casualties, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Datuk Razarudin Husain.
He said this was followed by 44 deaths involving drivers and passengers of vehicles, eight fatalities involving pedestrians and one death involving a cyclist.
“The total number of deaths during Op Selamat 18 so far is 141 from 135 accidents that have occurred on highways in the country,” he said.
He said apart from this, the police also recorded a total of 12,985 accidents nationwide during the period.
Razarudin said as of May 6, a total of 257,808 summonses were issued to road users for various traffic offences.
He added that of the total,194,445 summonses were issued for queue cutting, overtaking on double lines, driving in the emergency lane, beating traffic lights, speeding and using mobile phones while driving.
