18 road accident death in Malaysia in single day

Eighteen people were killed in road accidents on the first day Malaysia launched a road safety campaign nationwide during the festival period, police said Wednesday.

In the 16 fatal road accidents reported Tuesday, nine of the dead were motorcyclists and two were pillion riders, said Federal Traffic Police Chief Nooryah Md Anvar.

Others include a car driver, a lorry driver and two passengers, a driver of another vehicle and two pedestrians, Nooryah said in a statement released here.

Altogether, 1,042 accidents were reported and 8,508 summonses were issued Tuesday throughout the country, she added.

To reduce the number of road accidents during the festival period, including the Hari Raya (End of Ramadan) and the Hindu Festival of Lights, Malaysia launched its 11th road safety awareness enhancing campaign, which will last until Oct. 31.

Source: Xinhua