Malaysian traffic deaths 'higher than world average'

[webfact]

Malaysian traffic deaths “higher than world average”



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Malaysia has a higher than average number of traffic-related deaths compared to other countries, according to Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, New Straits Times reported.

The minister said statistics show that Malaysia had a 23.6 to 100,000 population ratio of traffic-related deaths. The world average is 18 per 100,000 population.

Australia, in comparison, has a 4 to 100,000 ratio while the United Kingdom has a 14 per 100,000 ratio.

This meant that Malaysia needs to boost its number of emergency physicians within the next five years to combat the high rate of traffic-related incidents, he said.

The Malaysian government currently has 205 registered emergency physicians nationwide. The country needs a more well-run, efficient and effective emergency medical and trauma services, he added.

Echoing his sentiment, Malaysian Society of Traumatology and Emergency Medicine president Prof Datuk Seri Dr Abu Hassan Asaari Abdullah said the number of emergency physicians is expected to grow to approximately 600 in the next five years.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/malaysian-traffic-deaths-higher-than-world-average


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-13

[clockman]

Not as bad as Thailand? Mind you no transparency here!

[ChrisY1]

Don't try to lower the road toll....boost the number of doctors....??

[Seastallion]

"This meant that Malaysia needs to boost its number of emergency physicians within the next five years to combat the high rate of traffic-related incidents, he said."

Hilarious. Increase the number of doctors to treat the injured (or outright dead), instead of acting to curb the number of accidents. Almost Thai in it's logic, and I suspect the guy has a nephew hoping to get a soon-to-be-announced medical scholarship.

[zaphod reborn]

The minister said statistics show that Malaysia had a 23.6 to 100,000 population ratio of traffic-related deaths. The world average is 18 per 100,000 population.

Thai PBS should have reported, by way of comparison, Thailand had a 44.0 to 100,000 population ratio of traffic deaths. http://asiancorrespondent.com/131679/thailand-road-deaths/

[Just1Voice]

So Malaysia is higher than the world average? That still puts them way lower than Thailand!

[Linky]

Im surprised its so high. The driving is terrible but with all the traffic you rarely get enough speed up to get into any serious accident. ?

But driving can be a nightmare, not only Malays but the Chinese are shockers.

[MaxYakov]

From the photo It's good to see that there are a least some stretches of road with effective median barriers - that the High Perf car had serious trouble eating. Maybe Thailand should consider installing the same?

[bendejo]

I have a friend who is a doctor in that country. She says once you leave KL the hospitals are not so well equipped with the more modern technologies, and forget about the eastern part. Also there is something regarding medical students going on, has to do with efforts to keep the graduates from going abroad. Maybe this guy in the article is using the statistic to influence politic-ing of this.

[Expat1]

For those of us that have lived there this makes absolute sense. Thais are downright Formula one drivers compared to them and China.

[apetley]

That figure for the UK is just plain wrong and is way lower. 3.5 not 14 according to these WHO stats.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

[Srikcir]

In February 2014 Malaysia ranked #17 in fatalities per 100,000 people per year but was actually tied with Djibouti, Lesotho and Mozambique. Thailand ranked #2 after Namibia.

http://www.livescience.com/43462-countries-crash-death-rates.html

[jacko45k]

Not as bad as Thailand? Mind you no transparency here!

I am wondering whether their statistics are affected negatively by sharing a border with Thailand!

A sort of spill-over effect.

Edited October 13, 2015 by jacko45k