The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) recently launched a Road Safety Campaign and Road Show at the Curve in Mutiara Damansara, Selangor, as another effort towards creating a motoring society that is more responsible and caring on the road.

"In a world that is today heavily dependent on mobility, road safety awareness should be a discipline and a way of life…road safety is something that we cannot afford to take lightly," said AAM Chairman Tunku Datuk Mudzaffar Bin Tunku Mustapha. "While campaigns are a good platform to generate greater awareness and in educating people about safer motoring, its effectiveness in the end depend greatly on the willingness of individuals to embrace the positive values that are imparted on them."

Tunku Mudzaffar said improving road safety requires the participation of many different organisations and sectors and that no single party working alone can effectively reduce the number of road casualties.

"Above all, success in generating greater awareness and in making our roads safer, depend greatly on our willingness as road users to put aside our selfish needs for a greater cause," he said.

Highlighting statistics from Ops Sikap XVI conducted during the Chinese New Year holiday period, Tunku Mudzaffar pointed out that although the number of fatalities recorded was lower compared to the corresponding period last year, the number of accident cases had increased.

"These statistics are very alarming and AAM is concerned that, despite the millions of ringgit invested year after year by both the Government and private institutions on road safety campaigns, we are still a long way from producing the desired results," he said.

"Motorcyclists who fail to strap on their helmet; those who do not use the designated motorcycle lanes; beating the red light; drivers who tailgate; have utter disregard for traffic laws; excessive speeding; aggressive driving; and the lack of consideration for others - these are all a common sight on Malaysian roads. So common that we have grown accustomed to accepting it although we know it is wrong."

As an authority and a responsible as well as caring motoring organization, Tunku Mudzaffar said AAM's commitment to creating greater road safety awareness has seen the association embarking on a number of programs and activities designed to propagate safer motoring.

Ongoing efforts included imparting on road safety tips, vital information and statistics on road safety to its members via the association's bi-monthly Drive magazine. AAM also offers defensive and advanced driving courses for members and non-members. Last year 1,000 participants underwent the program.

The Road Show will also travel to Penang, Ipoh, Melaka and Johor Bahru before returning to the Klang Valley.