There were nearly half a million accidents on Malaysian roads last year.

Road Transport Department (JPJ) deputy director-general (management) Arifin Che Mat said 489,606 accidents were recorded in 2015, a 2.8 percent increase as compared to the 476,196 cases reported in 2014.

He said the number of fatalities also increased, from 6,674 deaths in 2014 to 6,706 last year, an increase of 32 fatalities or 0.48 percent.

"The number of road accidents kept rising since 2010, except for 2014 when there was a 0.2 percent drop as compared to 2013," he said when opening the ‘Satu Komuniti Satu JPJ’ programme in Bemban, Jasin, today.

He added that JPJ, the relevant authorities and advocacy bodies were intensifying efforts to bring the accident rate down.

According to the statistics, 414,421 accidents were recorded in 2010; 449,040 (2011); 462,423 (2012); 477,204 (2013) and 476,196 (2014).

- Bernama