Lecturer wants more to be done in ensuring road safety
KUCHING: Faculty of Syariah & Law senior lecturer at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow, welcomes in principle the government’s agreement to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 [Act 333] to ensure the safety of roads users.
He, however, said increasing the fine and imprisonment is not enough.
The government, he said, needs to tackle the matter from the root as well in order to ensure roads are truly safe.
Amongst the agreed amendments to be made are
Sections 41 to 45 of the Road Transport Act 1987 [ Act 333] that will include mandatory jail sentence, longer jail time, higher fines and a longer licence suspension period.
Muzaffar said besides focusing on the punishment, the government also needs to amend the Act in order to ensure only those who are really suitable and fit obtain driving licence and drive on the roads.
He suggested that the government conduct strict competency test in order to determine the level of competency and fitness of the applicants before they could be issued with driving licence.
“This suggestion is not only important to deter people from driving under the influence of alcohol but also to prevent people from driving under the influence of any substances which can affect their mind and emotion, the very crucial components for safe driving.
“Such suggestion can also be used to prevent reckless drivers and those who have tendency of doing road bullying and other kinds of unthinkable crimes from driving.
“As people say ‘prevention is better than cure’, it is equally important for us to take precautionary steps to prevent bad people from getting their hands on the wheel and drive on our roads,” he said in a statement yesterday.
To determine whether or not a person is suitable or fit enough to be on our roads, he suggested strict tests to be carried out on all driving licence applicants as well as those who already have driving licence.
He said it is simply not enough for the authorities to conduct physical test or eye test.
“The road is a very dangerous place, not everybody is suitable and fit enough to be on the roads.
“As such, detailed checks need to be done,” he said.
Muzaffar said amendment can be made to Sections 29 and 30 of the Road Transport Act 1987 [Act 333] as these cover the areas of competency to drive and physical fitness of applicants.
“A more comprehensive and thorough check-up or test on the applicant’s background must be conducted in order to ensure that the applicant has all the right criteria before being given any type of driving licence.
“Such check-up or test must also include detailed examination of the applicant’s mental fitness and emotion or psychological stability as well,” he said.
Muzaffar said such examination must be carried out consistently every year, preferably when a person renews their driving licence, and must carried out by qualified and experienced experts or professionals.