The Sarawak government has asked the federal government to speed up its approval for funding to build more overtaking lanes on the Trans-Borneo Trunk Road from Serian to Miri, a distance covering 800km.
State Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications, Michael Manyin said Sarawak had sought RM100 million under the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP) to create more overtaking lanes along certain stretches of the road last year.
Lack of overtaking lanes and poor road conditions, especially on stretchesbetween Serian and Sri Aman, Sibu and Bintulu, and Bintulu and Miri are factors contributing accidents besides negligence, he told reporters after launching a course on considerate driving behavior organised by the Road Safety Council here today.
He said so far only stretches between Sarikei and Betong, and Sarikei and Sibu along the Trans-Borneo Trunk Road have overtaking lanes that fulfilled the international road standards.
According to the Sarawak Road Safety Department’s statistics, the state recorded 17,253 accidents last year, an increase of 3.4 per cent from 2009 while 365 people died on the roads last year, a 10 per cent rise compared to the previous year.
— BERNAMA
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