Don’t break the law: Azmil (left) and Kamarul call for responsible driving.
JOHOR BARU: More than 3,000 notices were issued by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to motorists and motorcyclists who were on the road without a valid licence.
Johor JPJ director Azmil Zainal said the 3,325 notices were from a total of 15,027 issued by the department during the statewide Ops Patuh conducted between Nov 1 and 30.
He said the bulk of the offenders were motorcyclists.
“About 70% of them were motorcyclists. We also issued 588 notices to those driving without a vocational licence under the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and Goods Driving Licence (GDL) categories,” he told The Star.
Azmil said those driving without a licence could be slapped with a compound under Section 26(1) of the Road Transport Act while underaged drivers and guardians could be charged in court under Section 39 of the same Act.
“There are already laws put in place to deter such offences and we urge the public to adhere to them for the safety of all parties.
“They should also remember that in case of untoward incidents, including accidents involving deaths or injuries, no claims can be made if the person involved does not have a valid driving licence,” he said.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said parents and guardians played a vital role in curbing the problem of underaged driving.
“Driving without a licence is already a serious offence and it is even more dangerous for those who are underaged as they may not be aware of the dangers.
“It is not only dangerous to the person operating a vehicle without a licence but also to other road users. Parents should never allow their children to use a motorcycle or car without a licence, no matter what the circumstance.
“They should also monitor their underaged children as there are many cases where children were caught using their parents’ vehicles without permission,” he said.
Under JPJ rules, the eligible age for a motorcycle licence is 16 and 17 to drive a car.
Comm Kamarul said the common excuse given by those caught driving without a licence was that they did not have the time to take the classes and sit for the exam.
“It is definitely not an acceptable excuse and very irresponsible. For underaged drivers, there is no way they can justify the offence,” he said.
