SEREMBAN: Tougher legislation, including a lifetime ban for repeat offenders who cause fatal accidents while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, needs to be introduced to curb the rise in such cases.
Negri Sembilan human resources, entrepreneurship, cooperative and consumerism and climate change committee chairman S. Veerapan said the time has come for the authorities to take sterner measures to prevent those under the influence from getting behind the wheel.
"The relevant laws need to be amended to provide for heavier penalties against those driving under influence and causing fatal accidents.
"This is necessary to prevent innocent lives from being lost due to the recklessness of those driving under influence," he said.
At present, repeat offenders can be barred from driving for 20 years under the Road Transport Act 1987.
They can also be jailed between 10 years and 15 years and fined between RM100,000 and RM150,000.
Veerapan also proposed that the authorities be allowed to temporarily seize vehicles owned by these drivers until the cases are disposed of in court.
The authorities, he added, should also carry out more enforcement especially during the weekends and festive seasons.
"We need to make sure our roads are safer and free from the threat of drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs," he said, adding that more awareness programmes should also be organised to educate the young on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
