SEPANG: The new 1km-long Technology Test Track (MT3) by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) will help spearhead the production of safer vehicles in the Asean region, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The Transport Minister said the establishment of a centre of excellence for active and passive safety research on vehicles was a key area in the Malaysian Road Safety Plan 2022-2030.
“The construction of the MT3 test circuit will be a pioneer for various tests of active and passive safety systems on vehicles in Malaysia as well as in South-East Asia.
“The MT3 laboratory will help Malaysia excel in vehicle safety technology, supported by existing programmes like the New Car Assessment Programme for South-East Asian Countries (NCAP) and the Malaysia Motorcycle Assessment Programme (MyMAP).
“Hopefully, the development of this test track can attract private parties and other agencies to work with Miros in ensuring that vehicles produced can meet safety specifications.
“This is to ensure that vehicles on the market are five-star vehicles and safe to use,” he said in his speech at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Miros MT3 track here.
Dr Wee said the MT3 would enable agencies such as the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to carry out vehicle testing for study, research and evaluation purposes.
“For example, JPJ can utilise the test track to carry out the Vehicle Type Approval (VTA) process, in which vehicles are evaluated to ensure that they adhere to Malaysian standards and UN regulations,” he said.
The minister said the Malaysian Road Safety Plan 2022-2030, launched on Jan 27, laid out several key areas that focus on the use of safer vehicles, roadworthiness, vehicular active and passive safety and preparations towards the use of new generation vehicles.
He said this was part of the country’s aim to reduce the rate of fatal accidents by 50% by 2030.
Located near the Sepang International Circuit, the Miros MT3 is targeted for completion by the end of this year.
Miros chairman Dr Wong Shaw Voon said the RM10mil test track would be operational next year.
“In addition to this test circuit, this 100-acre (40.5ha) site will later be equipped with office block facilities, laboratories and a proving ground area.
“The facility will be made into a Miros complex which will be named ‘Mirosplex’,” he said.
He said tests that could be conducted on the track include Electronic Stability Control, Blind Spot Detection, Autonomous Emergency Braking and the Anti-lock Braking System.
Wong added that the MT3 circuit was also designed to offer collision test services to manufacturers of road furniture such as road barriers and crash cushion, so they could evaluate if their products comply with standards.
“Currently, crash tests on street furniture can only be done in other countries, and those involve high costs.
“This crash test facility in MT3 will encourage local producers to produce more cost-effective products and indirectly help the growth of local street furniture production,” he said.