Careless drivers and not road condition are the main cause of the rising number of roads accidents in the country.

Kuala Lumpur Road Safety Department (JKJR) director Muhammad Heeza Hassan said 70 percent of road accidents are caused by human negligence, 20 percent due to road condition and 10 percent due to vehicle problem.

"Factors such as speeding, overtaking, drunk, using mobile phone, drowsiness and fatigue can't be changed if road users are selfish.

"Changing the attitude of drivers to make them more courteous, patient and considerateis not easy and willtake a long time and cooperation of all parties," he said after visiting accident victims at orthopaedic ward of Kuala Lumpur Hospital today.

NONE Heeza said the increasing number of vehicles and new drivers on the road lead to increased traffic volume and this indirectly contributes to higher accident rate.

"Police records for Jan-Sept this year show 43,678 accident cases compared to 40,154 cases recorded in the corresponding period last year.

"In the same period this year, 176 people were killed in road accidents compared to 189 people killed for the corresponding period last year," he added.

On zero accident rate, he said, it is quite difficult to achieve but with continuous safety campaign, the negative attitude could be changed and road accidents could be reduced.

One of the patients visited was student Muhammad Fadli Ahmad Kedri, 17, who was involved in an accident that damaged the nervous system, forcing him to miss the SPM examination this year.

His mother Zalina Mohd Zain, 41, said Fadli was riding a motorcycle on rSept 28 while returning from a school in Bentong, Pahang, when hit by a vehicle at a double line.

"As a result, Fadli was admitted to ICU (intensive care unit) for 13 days before being transferred to this ward two days ago.

"Fadli's condition is stable but he still can't talk and move because his brain nerves have been damaged," she added.

Another victim was Mohd Jamal Nasir, 24, who fractured his leg in an accident on Oct 1 at Duke highway, near the junction of Wangsa Maju.

"The car driven by a friend was speeding, overturned and spun because the road was slippery due to an oil spill," he said.

- Bernama