Proposed 30km/h school zone speed limit still ungazetted two years on

KUALA LUMPUR: The nationwide 30km/h school zone speed limit remains ungazetted more than two years after its approval, pending a review of legal amendments, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek said the Transport Ministry was reviewing proposed amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 in consultation with relevant ministries and enforcement agencies.

"The government has agreed to set a maximum speed limit of 30km/h in school zones to improve the safety of pupils and other road users.

"The Transport Ministry is reviewing possible amendments in collaboration with the Education Ministry, Works Ministry, Public Works Department, police, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), Road Transport Department and other relevant agencies," she said in a written parliamentary reply.

Fadhlina said the lower speed limit would be supported by appropriate road signs and markings, alongside monitoring and enforcement by the authorities.

The Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, approved the policy on July 15, 2024.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke had said last year that the gazetting process was underway, but the necessary legal amendments remain under review.

Fadhlina was responding to Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin), who asked about inter-ministerial and local authority cooperation to improve school traffic safety and prevent accidents.

She said the ministry was adopting an integrated approach covering road safety education, traffic management, enforcement and infrastructure improvements.

Under the Safe School Management Guidelines, vehicles travelling within school compounds must observe a speed limit of 15km/h.

Schools are also required to prepare traffic management plans, designate parking, pick-up and drop-off areas, provide pedestrian walkways, and install road signs, markings and safety barriers where necessary.

Outside school compounds, Fadhlina said PLANMalaysia and local authorities had introduced safe school zone pilot projects, which were being expanded.

These speed reduction initiatives have involved schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu, Kedah, Sarawak, Johor and Perlis.

Local authorities are also reorganising pick-up and drop-off zones and introducing traffic-calming measures to improve safety around schools.

Fadhlina said the ministry was working with the Works Ministry and the Public Works Department to improve road infrastructure near high-risk school locations.

Planned or ongoing improvements include upgrading pedestrian crossings with traffic or warning lights, narrowing lanes to slow vehicles, and separating pedestrian routes from traffic.

Other measures include pedestrian refuge islands, speed bumps, warning signs, improved road markings and safety barriers.

On road safety education, Fadhlina said the ministry was working with the Transport Ministry to integrate road safety lessons across preschool, primary and secondary school levels.

She added that the MyLesen B40 programme had benefited 60,000 low-income pupils nationwide by providing free Class B2 motorcycle licences, coordinated through education offices and driving institutes.

Fadhlina said the ministry would continue strengthening inter-agency cooperation to ensure robust safety measures both inside school compounds and on surrounding roads.