Hello there: Loke greeting a motorcyclist as he handed out dates to road users in front of the Road Transport Department’s enforcement station in Semenyih.
KAJANG: Restrictions on heavy vehicles will be implemented once again for the upcoming Hari Raya festive rush on March 29 and March 30, as well as April 5 and April 6, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
“The purpose is to avoid congestion as well as to reduce the risk of road accidents stemming from the mix of both commercial and private vehicles,” he said at a press conference after visiting the Road Transport Department (JPJ) enforcement station in Semenyih.
Concurrently, integrated operations will also be carried out by the respective agencies starting March 24 until April 8, given that Hari Raya is expected on March 31.
“The operations are aimed to survey, trace and take action on road users that have broken traffic laws.”
On a related matter, he said that companies with vehicles involved in accidents will be audited.
“This is what we are trying to practise. A lot of companies have not offered or stressed safety courses for their drivers.
“We want to change that so that all will uphold safety aspects. The law is already there, but what we want to stress is compliance.
“Now it’s standard operating procedure that when lorries are involved in accidents the company that owns these lorries are also audited.
“If they do not pass, their operations will be suspended.”
He also said that while there were parties that would be unhappy with this direction, safety must be practised on a daily basis.
On the use of body cameras (by enforcement personnel), the minister said they are still waiting for the allocation for them, though it is likely the cameras will be in place by the end of this year.
