Media Selangor Team
SHAH ALAM, Oct 8 – The government’s proposed 30km/h maximum speed limit in school zones is still under legal review, the Education Ministry said.
The ministry said the Transport Ministry is studying amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 following the proposal to set a 30km/h limit in school zones to improve the safety of students and road users.
“The Transport Ministry is currently reviewing the relevant amendments under the Road Transport Act 1987 that involves the MOE, the Works Ministry, Public Works Department (JKR), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), Road Transport Department (JPJ) and other relevant agencies," it said in a parliamentary written reply dated October 7.
The reply was in response to Dato’ Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (Tampin), who asked about cross-ministerial efforts with the Works Ministry, Transport Ministry and local authorities to improve traffic safety at schools and prevent similar incidents from recurring.
On July 15, 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi approved the 30km/h national policy.
Last year, Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that the gazetting process had begun, but inter-ministerial reviews under Act 333 are still ongoing.
Under the Safe School Management Guidelines, the ministry said schools are required to ensure vehicle speeds within school compounds do not exceed 15km/h.
It said that measures such as designated drop-off and pick-up zones, pedestrian walkways, traffic plans and safety barriers will also be implemented.
"For traffic management outside school premises, PLANMalaysia and local authorities (PBT) have also implemented Safe School Zone pilot projects at several locations, with the programme currently being expanded to more schools," it added.
The pilot project to reduce speed in school zones involved schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu, Kedah, Sarawak, Johor and Perlis.
The ministry also said it was working with KKR and JKR on engineering measures at schools identified as having safety risks, including improved pedestrian crossings, lane narrowing, pedestrian separation, refuge islands, speed bumps, warning signs, road markings and safety barriers.
It also said that the ministry and Transport Ministry would continue to raise road safety education awareness through the Road Safety Education (PKJR) initiative.
“The ministry will continue to strengthen cooperation across ministries and agencies so that education, engineering, enforcement and traffic management can move forward in an integrated manner to protect students,” it said.
Meanwhile, the ministry said the MyLesen B40 programme has helped 60,000 students nationwide obtain Class B2 motorcycle licences for free.
