All systems go to curb crashes

> Awas and Kejara in final stages involving link to RTD website, says Liow

BENTONG: The Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas) and the Demerit Points For Traffic Offences System (Kejara), due to be implemented in April, could reduce the number of road accidents in the country.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the systems developed by the Road Transport Department (RTD) are in the final stages involving the link to the RTD website to enable users to get information on traffic offences.

“The sophisticated systems include closedcircuit camera systems and the use of IT to identify and trace all traffic offenders in a short time. Traffic offenders will be warned, compounded, suspended (licence) and blacklisted for offences such as speeding and beating the red light.

“We are still studying the ideal medium to serve the notices to offenders, which will be announced later,” he said after launching the Road Safety Campaign and Chinese New Year celebration at the East Coast Expressway here yesterday. It was attended by highway concessionaire Anih Berhad president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Azmil Khalid.

Awas, slated for implementation in May 2016, had to be postponed due to technical problems and legislation related to the RTD.

Liow said Awas involves 21 cameras in high-risk accident areas nationwide, including in Pagoh, the site of an express bus horror crash recently. He expressed hope the system could educate road users to comply with the speed limit to reduce the number of fatal road accidents. – Bernama