Lee: No compromise dealing with reckless motorists

PETALING JAYA: It is time to restore discipline on the roads, and there should be no compromise in dealing with reckless road users and habitual offenders, stressed Malaysia Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

He said the installation of seven new Automated Enforcement System (AES) came­ras and the introduction of 21 additional offences under the Kejara demerit system this year were timely.

Lee said the efforts were vital to further reduce the number of accidents and casualties on the roads.

Echoing his support for Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Lee said the initiative was all about making the roads safer for everyone, and is not about punishing people.

“Those who are taking the authorities to task must be more balanced in their views. Nobody likes to be given a summons, and no one likes to pay a fine.

“There are drivers who disobey rules, and reckless road users are not only endangering themselves but also other law-abiding dri­vers,” he said, adding that punitive measures should also target road bullies.

Lee said in countries with low accident rates, it is because there are “no-nonsense” enforcement measures in place.

“In Australia, for example, you can go to jail for a traffic offence. In our country, you only get a fine of up to RM300, and yet you have people saying they will wait to get a discount.

“We are on the right track by imposing new road safety measures to restore discipline on the roads,” said Lee, adding that laws and regulations must be enforced fairly and justly, with no malice.

He also said besides enforcement, authorities must continue with awareness building and education on road safety.

Lee believes that the country will succeed in reducing road accidents when road users embrace a culture of road safety.

In 2016, there were 521,466 road accidents and 7,152 fatalities, an increase from 2015, with 489,606 accidents and 6,706 deaths.

On June 19, Liow said 21 more offences will be included under Kejara by the end of the year when the Road Transport Department’s MySIKAP system upgrade is completed.

They include, among others, using cellphones while driving, not wearing safety belts, drink driving, using the emergency lane, driving under influence, and overloading by commercial vehicles.

The new AES cameras are at 146.8km and 151.4km mark near Pagoh (Johor), 299.9km mark near Kampar (Perak) and 96.3km mark near Kuala Muda (Kedah) along the North-South Expressway.

The other three are at the 17km mark of the Gua Musang-Kuala Krai highway, as well as the 256.1km and 288.6km mark of the East Coast Expressway Phase 2.