IPOH: A total of 575 deaths involving teenagers aged 18 years old and below have been recorded between January and September this year.
Federal Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the death toll mostly involved school students.
"These figures represent heartbreaking losses for families and communities.
"The main causes include tailgating, reckless lane changes, losing control of the vehicle and riders feeling sleepy," he said at the Road Safety Awareness Advocacy Programme held at SMK Anderson here on Wednesday (Oct 23).
He said most motorcycle accidents occur between 6am and 10am.
In an effort to reduce death tolls among motorcyclists, he said the Ops Khas Motosikal had been conducted from Aug 12 to Sept 12, across all states and districts.
He said the operation aimed to reduce road accidents, especially those involving motorcyclists, who are frequently involved in fatal crashes.
"Through the operation, deaths involving motorcyclists and their passengers saw a 14.7% decrease, with 324 fatalities recorded in 2024, compared to 436 in 2023.
"With the continued enforcement of such operations, the number of accidents and fatalities will further decrease, creating safer roads for everyone," he said.
Separately, he said that the Road Safety Awareness Advocacy Program was held to raise awareness about the importance of road safety and adhering to traffic laws.
"The programme aims to educate the public, especially students, on how to practice safe behavior on the road and reduce accidents through education and training," he said.
