Motor insurance claims due to road accidents are expected to sharply increase during festive seasons such as Lunar New Year, according to a Malaysian insurance executive.
Toll road firm PLUS expects more than two million vehicles to pass through its highways during the Lunar New Year season, The Star reported, as many Malaysians return to their hometowns in a tradition known as ‘balik kampung’. Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway and the East Coast Expressway Phase 1 are anticipating a 60% increase in vehicles.
“Based on the accident statistics from the police published by the Road Safety Department (JKJR), there are more road accidents recorded during the festive seasons every year,” said General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) chairman Antony Lee.
From January 29 to February 02, 2019, a total of 20,829 accidents were recorded, with 2,016 fatalities, according to JKJR data.
Lee advised motorists who encounter a road accident to “be calm, polite and courteous and do not admit liability or offer any settlement or payment.”
“Make a simple diagram of the accident scene. This will help you when making a police report later on, as you will also be required to do so,” he added. “Snap photos and note down the extent of the damage to the vehicles or property involved, if the situation permits.”
