Jail time for dangerous drivers
Council: High time to nail those who cause deaths of road users
The National Road Safety Council calls for sterner action against drivers who cause deaths of road users.
PETALING JAYA: The National Road Safety Council has urged the Government to introduce a mandatory jail sentence for dangerous drivers who caused deaths of road users.
Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said it is high time to impose the sentence as road users were now at the “complete mercy” of these reckless drivers of buses and other heavy vehicles.
“If the Government and its agencies such as the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) do not take such stern action against reckless drivers, such deaths will keep recurring.
“It is high time to nail them for good and put these irresponsible and reckless drivers away,” he said.
At present, Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 provides for a jail term of between two and 10 years and a fine of between RM5,000 and RM20,000.
Lee said a mandatory jail sentence would mean that if a driver is proven to have caused the death of others due to negligence, then that person must go to jail.
“If it is not a mandatory imprisonment, that means the offender can just be fined and paying a fine is not harsh enough to be a deterrent sentence.
“The punishment has to be more stern in order to make drivers realise that they have to exercise due care at all times.
“I believe that we need a radical move to tackle this issue by instilling fear and full responsibility among drivers that they would be sent to jail if found guilty,” Lee said, adding that there were too many cases involving heavy vehicles such as buses, trucks and lorries.
He said it was usual that after such accidents, the public will be told that the operator or driver involved has outstanding summonses while the kneejerk reaction is to carry out investigations and suspend operations.
Lee also urged enforcement agencies to conduct frequent checks to stop reckless drivers, including those who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol, from endangering the lives of other road users.
Lee said previously, there were many random checks made at bus terminals and roadblocks were set up in the wee hours to help nab reckless drivers who were drunk or high on drugs.
Under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act, driving under the influence of alcohol or drug which led to death or injuries to others carries between three and 10 years of imprisonment, and a fine of between RM8,000 and RM20,000.
The punishment has to be more stern in order to make drivers realise that they have to exercis se due care at all times. . Tan Sri Lee Lam m Thye