Discounts send the wrong message
ONCE again, I read with total disbelief that the police are offering a 50% discount for traffic offenders to settle their outstanding summonses. Don’t they realise that offering a discount has a totally counterproductive effect? Why would any traffic offender even consider paying his summons when he knows for sure that, sooner or later, there would be a discount offer coming up?
It is a sad fact that Malaysia has the third highest fatality rate from road traffic accidents in Asia and Asean, and one of the main reasons identified is the lack of enforcement.
I don’t intend to repeat all the statistics which are easily accessible and most people are probably aware of them anyway, even if only subconsciously. Sadly, there has been no improvement in efforts to reduce the number of annual traffic fatalities since 2007, hence the police should perhaps finally take a hint and try something different.
Since Malaysia is in a good way to become a developed country, isn’t it be high time to also reflect this incredible development on the roads? The number of red lights being run, drivers (mostly motorcyclists) going against traffic, speeding, squeezing into a lane at the very last possibility (often even passing double solid lines), blocking intersections and other boxed areas, road bullying and illegal parking/double parking (even in official bus stops) are just a few examples of traffic offences which, unfortunately, are very common and I am sure all readers are only too familiar with.
Lately, I have noticed more summonses being issued for parking offences, but the other violations mentioned earlier are still not being tackled effectively. Enforcing the existing traffic laws and coming down harder on traffic offenders who do not pay their summonses on time will have a much more positive effect than granting discounts.
Fines need to “hurt” financially in order to be effective and to ensure that road users do not break the law easily.
In the developed world, fines increase significantly when the offender delays payment. Alternatively, the police impound the vehicle and only release it after full payment of all fines, including a hefty fee for their troubles. All the information of vehicle owners is easily available to the police as well.
Enforcing traffic laws that will clearly result in a drop in road fatalities should be a key performance.
A positive side effect of enforcing the traffic laws is that a significant amount of fines is collected which could be reinvested in the local road system, reducing the pressure on public funds.
Lastly, a quick reminder of the road fatalities statistics after all. The bulk of victims are young adults, the future of Malaysia. It is certainly in all our interest to protect the future generation, so let’s do the right thing. Find an effective way to enforce existing traffic laws instead of offering useless discounts to traffic law offenders.