The programme, called the International Road Safety Assessment Programme (iRap) will put into play a vehicle “outfitted with advanced technology” to analyse 5,000 km of expressways and roads nationwide.
It would then pinpoint areas needing improvement through a generated 5-star rating system, the data of which would be used to develop road safety countermeasures designed to prevent road accidents.
The partnership was launched by Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, under whose ministry Miros falls.
“The iRAP will serve as a supplementary tool to strengthen existing road safety audit practices and blackspot programmes,” said Liow at the launch at Menara Shell here today.
“Its role in road safety intervention is to eliminate high-risk roads in the country and assist in prioritising road improvement programmes by evaluating the costs and benefits of each investment.”
Liow said that the programme will see the Transport Ministry working closely with the Works Ministry, as well as the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).
He added that Miros and other relevant stakeholders were now in the midst of developing a more comprehensive and localised road assessment protocol, which would eventually be extended to the Asean region, for possible application.
“With each star the road rating increases by, accidents reduce by half. The right infrastructure in place has the potential to save lives,” said iRAP CEO Rob McInerney.
The UK-based programme provides tools and training to help automobile associations, governments, funding agencies, research institutes and other NGOs in more than 70 countries, make roads safer.
Shell will use iRap’s star ratings in its journey management plans and to improve their own road safety measures.