New ruling means cost savings for the people, say groups

PETALING JAYA: The new ruling requiring motorists to only sit for one theory test to obtain a driving and riding licence, will save time and money as well as benefit youths and people in the lower income bracket, say groups.

The policy taking effect on Sept 15, whereby a person need not sit for a theory test to get a driving licence if they sat for the test earlier to obtain a riding licence and vice versa, will mean cost savings for the people, especially the B40, said Malaysian Road and Transportation Safety Association (MRTSA) president Nik Mohd Salim Nik Mohd Salleh.

“The cost to obtain a driving or riding licence is also expected to be more affordable with the new ruling,” he said when contacted.

Nik Mohd Salim, however, suggested that the training module be reviewed and improved based on the category of vehicles.

“The module should include vehicle categories and needs to be improved on safety-based behavioural elements, communication on the road, and knowledge of the position and response of the various types of vehicles while on the road,” he said.

Road safety expert Prof Dr Law Teik Hua from Universiti Putra Malaysia said the new policy is a beneficial one to streamline and reduce the redundancy of the driving and riding exam procedures.

He said this policy should encourage driving institutes to revise and lower the prices they charge candidates. Prof Law added that while policies to reduce the public burden were essential, the Transport Ministry should also take steps to revise the current driving exam curriculum.

“It should address the existing lack of modules that examine candidates’ safe driving capabilities in identifying road hazards and handling high-risk and demanding driving situations,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Commending the new policy, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive officer Dr Saravanan Thambirajah said it would ease the process of obtaining a driving licence.

“Based on this new policy, we suggest driving schools consider lowering prices,” he said.

Saravanan added that besides coming up with such policies that were beneficial to the people, the Transport Ministry must also continue to find ways to raise road safety awareness to bring down the number of accidents and fatalities in the country.

Malaysian Association of Driving Institutes (Pima) president Mat Aris Bakar said driving academies were still waiting for the details of the new curriculum for the theory class from the Road Transport Department (JPJ).