JPJ deploys 1,800 officers for CNY

TAPAH: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has deployed 1,800 officers and other personnel at 128 locations nationwide to improve road safety in conjunction with the Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration.

These locations include dangerous road stretches, main roads, federal and state roads, and 14 rest and recreation (R and R) areas.

JPJ director-general, Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad said the measure was taken to increase the "perception of being caught" (POBC) committing a traffic offence among road users.

"With the POBC concept, road users will see uniformed officers on duty which would increase their perception of being monitored by the authorities.

"We will take action against road users who break traffic rules," he said after attending a road safety campaign, here, today in conjunction with the upcoming CNY celebration here Tuesday.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Karpawi also attended the event.

Ismail said the department had also mobilised some 500 members of the One JPJ Youth Squad (SM1J) to assist the department's officers on rotation at the 14 R and R areas.

"We have also placed our personnel at 29 bus terminals around the country to monitor the conditions of buses and bus drivers. We have conducted early inspections at 82 depots nationwide, especially on express buses," he said.

Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz said the campaign which involved JPJ, the police, PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) and other agencies was to reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities during the festive period.

He said the campaign had been implemented since Feb 12 and would continue until Feb 27.

PLUS managing director, Datuk Noorizah Abdul Hamid said the company expected 1.5 million road users to be on its highways during peak hours. - Bernama