75% of the nation's road infrastructure to be upgraded by 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is targeting to elevate around 15,000km or 75% of nation's road infrastructure and provides a minimum of 3-star rating throughout high volume road networks by 2020.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry will work closely with Works Ministry, Public Works Department and Malaysia Highway Authority to reduce accident risks related to road environment.
By adopting the international road assessment programme (iRAP), he said, it could eliminate the high-risk roads in the country.
"iRAP will be beneficial to make our roads safer for all," he said, at the launching of the programme and signing ceremony between Shell Malaysia and Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) here this evening.
Liow said iRAP would also assist in prioritising road improvement programmes, "by evaluating the costs and benefits of each investment."
"This programme has been adopted by more than 70 countries and will enable us to identify areas for improvement," he said, adding that Asean iRAP will also be launched in 2018.
However, Liow had a piece of advice for road users despite the expected improvement in road environment ...
"There is no use having a 4-star or 5-star road when driving habits among road users remains poor. Certain 4-star roads may even decline to 1-star with poor driving habits," he pointed out.