PUTATAN: Upko has called for an immediate and comprehensive safety audit of construction areas along the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah following growing concerns over accidents, inadequate safety measures and prolonged inconvenience to motorists.
Putatan Upko chief Jason Lee (
pic) said accident-prone stretches should be equipped with sufficient road signs, temporary traffic lights, safety cones, road barriers and adequate lighting, while urging the Public Works Department and relevant authorities to ensure concessionaires fully comply with prescribed safety standards throughout the construction period.
He said motorists had complained of vehicles hitting potholes, tyre damage and serious road accidents allegedly linked to inadequate safety precautions, adding that enforcement agencies, particularly the traffic police, should increase patrols along unfinished sections to curb speeding, illegal racing and other dangerous driving activities.
Jason also proposed that contractors be held accountable for accidents caused by negligence, including failing to provide adequate traffic management and safety measures, while calling on the Government to release accident data for the Pan Borneo Highway to identify areas requiring improvement rather than assign blame.
He also urged the authorities to provide regular updates on the project's progress and expected completion timeline, supported Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah's recent call for stronger enforcement measures, including CCTV cameras, increased patrols and road safety awareness programmes, and suggested solar-powered lighting at accident-prone locations as a cost-effective safety measure.
