Avoidable tragedy: On May 8, a fatal accident killed a mother and her daughter along the North-South Expressway. The lorry driver tested positive for heroin. — Photo courtesy of Fire and Rescue Department
PETALING JAYA: Mandatory drug screening for commercial drivers must be carried out amid a rise in fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles and drug-positive drivers, say enforcement and medical bodies.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri told The Star yesterday that it is timely for the mandatory drug test as there should be no compromise in terms of safety on the road.
“We fully support this call,” he said.
Alternatively, Comm Mohd Yusri urged companies and employers to voluntarily conduct drug tests on drivers prior to hiring them.
“Commercial vehicle companies and employers should take proactive steps in voluntarily conducting drug tests during the vetting process.
“In the long term, it will benefit all parties as road safety is prioritised,” he added.
Comm Mohd Yusri said such action will be for the greater good, ensuring all road users are safe.
“We hope companies and employers will take the necessary step towards making sure their drivers are drug-free on the road,” he said.
Comm Mohd Yusri previously said that more than 38,367 traffic summonses were issued to commercial vehicles for various offences last year.
He said there were too many accidents involving heavy vehicles lately, and the department has increased enforcement operations on such commercial vehicles.
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said regular and unannounced spot checks for drug and alcohol abuse among commercial vehicle drivers are essential for road safety and ensure that those behind the wheel do not pose a threat to other road users.
MMA president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said there is evidence that annual medical tests solely is insufficient in addressing the issue of unscrupulous commercial vehicle drivers driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
He said individuals who are involved in drug or alcohol abuse may temporarily abstain from substance use to ensure it does not show up in their blood or urine tests when obtaining or renewing their vocational driving licence.
“Hence, unannounced spot checks by road traffic enforcement is crucial and should be conducted regularly.
“This will complement mandatory and comprehensive medical screenings in compliance with medical examination standards.
“This screening should be strictly enforced for both the application and renewal of vocational driving licences to better protect motorists and passengers.
“Road safety must always be treated with the highest priority. A firm and multi-pronged approach is necessary to prevent avoidable tragedies on our roads,” Dr Kalwinder Singh told The Star.
Past cases of heavy vehicle collisions showed that most drivers were under the influence of drugs at the time.
On May 8, an accident killed a mother and her daughter along the North-South Expressway, after a four-vehicle collision.
A 39-year-old lorry driver who was arrested tested positive for heroin.
Days before that, a tanker lorry driver, under the influence of drugs, crashed into a car before his heavy vehicle collided with another lorry coming from the opposite direction in an accident at KM39, Jalan Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh on May 2.
Police later confirmed that the driver had tested positive for methamphetamine.
On March 15, a seven-year-old Singaporean boy died from serious injuries after his family’s car was hit by a lorry near Jalan Pantai in Johor Baru.
The lorry driver was arrested and tested positive for methamphetamine.
The driver has since been charged with driving under the influence of drugs.
