New speed limits of 30km/h and 50km/h are being proposed for certain parts of the city centre.
However, land use and transport planner Goh Bok Yen said the authorities might need to “rearrange the road hierarchy” to cater to the proposed limits, while transport consultant Rosli Azad Khan said arterial roads would need certain speeds to be maintained to ensure traffic flow. He said the focus should be on black spots and accident-prone areas of major highways.
The proposed new speed limits have been under study by Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research who are working on identifying the stretches of roads where the new speed limits can be implemented as a road safety measure.
More pedestrian-friendly roads
Goh said these roads should also be more pedestrian-friendly, and crossroads should have wider curbs and narrower lanes to allow more space for people to walk.
He said lower speed limits were a good idea to help improve the road culture in Malaysia and achieve a safer road environment.
“Nonetheless, strict enforcement must be implemented as most road users, especially motorcyclists, do not abide by the speed limit. Enforcers must make sure they follow the rules. They can use technologies such as smart CCTV cameras to detect and catch those breaking the law,” he said.
Target the black spots and highways
Rosli said DBKL should look into variable speed limits where it should be increased to 70km/h or 80km/h on traffic heading out of the city during peak periods, so that traffic flow could be increased.
Speed limits for incoming traffic, especially during peak hours, would become irrelevant as traffic would already be at a standstill.
“Therefore, these parties should not focus their attention and waste their resources on city roads. They should look at black spots or common accident areas outside the city limits, where traffic speeds are much higher and accidents tend to happen more,” he said.
He said areas such as the Federal Highway and the Kesas and Guthrie highways, where motorcycle lanes have been provided, should be also looked into as these were places where accidents normally occur.
“If Miros is serious about halving the road death statistics, the expressways are where they should be targeting, not the city,” he said.