KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Transport Department must get tough against errant motorists, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said.
“I am not saying that it (RTD) is not doing its job. However, perhaps it has not been strict enough in enforcing the Kejara system,” he said after opening the 12th Yamaha Balik Kampung Safety Campaign yesterday.
Kong added that the public had also been responsible for the failure of the Kejara system by not settling summonses.
By not paying the summonses, demerit points are not given, contributing to the high rate of unpaid summonses in the country.
The Star on Tuesday had reported the Kejara (Keselamatan Jalanraya or Road Safety) demerit system woukl be amended to include a “no-appeal” clause.
The clause will not give room for offenders to appeal once they have received the minimum 15 demerit points for various traffic offences.
Kong added that the ministry was also studying the matter alongside the RTD to come up with improvements to the Kejara system.
Earlier in his speech, Kong said road accident rates between 2004 and 2009 had dropped by 46% from 46,531 to 25,268.
In the same period, the fatality index had decreased from 4.51 to 3.55 per 10,000 registered vehicles.
“This shows that efforts to raise awareness on road safety is working,” he said.
He added that the Ops Bersepadu for Hari Raya would be carried out from Sept 3 to 18 jointly by the police, the RTD and 12 other agencies and NGOs to enforce and encourage road safety.
Meanwhile, the Road Safety Department (JKJR) says motorcyclists must buckle their helmets or risk paying the full RM300 fine.
Director-general Datuk Suret Singh said anyone caught not doing so would be slapped with that amount.
He added that police and Road Transport Department officers hadbeen told to take stiffer action on those who don’t buckle their helmets.
