Nation

Five major traffic offences to be settled in court

KUALA LUMPUR: Five major traffic offences including beating the red light committed during the Op Bersepadu period between April 29 to May 8 will not be compounded.

Instead, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said offenders of these five traffic offences must settle their cases in court.

The five offences are driving on the emergency lane; using phone while driving; beating the red light; driving above the speed limit; and, changing lanes recklessly.

"Actions will be taken accordingly throughout the campaign starting from April 29 until May 8 this year.

"As many as 2,200 Road Transport Department (RTD) enforcement officers will be deployed for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri operation this year to help in reducing the road fatality rate," said Wee.

To catch the traffic offenders. the minister said the authorities would adopt several initiatives including going undercover as passengers of express buses and monitoring through the Enforcement Based Station (EBS) at 14 locations along the highway.

"This also includes using the Perception Of Being Caught (POBC) as a patrol method on the main route of federal roads, including Op Khas Motosikal mounted nationwide," he said.

Wee added that the RTD would conduct road worthiness operation from April 25 to 28 by inspecting express buses at 75 depots and 28 major bus terminals across the country.

"As what has been done each year, heavy vehicles ferrying goods will be banned on the roads during the festive period, starting from three days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri (April 30 to May 2) and two days after (May 7 to May 8).

"Such a ban is intended to lower the risk of road accidents and traffic congestion," he told reporters after the launch of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri Road Safety campaign and Op Bersepadu here, today.

Wee added that with the reopening of the country's borders, relevant authorities should ensure that they were fully ready and could efficiently reduce accident statistics.

"Based on the statistics from the police, 418,237 road accidents were recorded in 2020 with 4,634 deaths.

"In 2021, there were 370,286 recorded road accidents with 4,539 deaths and as of March 31, this year, 114,639 road accidents were recorded with 1,323 fatalities nationwide," he said, adding that the ministry aimed to reduce road fatalities and injuries to at least 50 per cent by 2030 based on the Aug 31, 2020 Conference Resolution 74/299.

Wee also said this year's campaign would focus on four main cores— education and advocacy; prevention and monitoring, enforcement, as well as evaluation.

He said various activities would be held including the Road Safety Media Campaign, Safety Awareness and Focused Advocacy for Road User (Safer) by RTD, and Petronas Coffee Break Campaign in conjunction with its 25th Anniversary.

There will also be free car and motorcycle inspection services by Petron Malaysia, Voluntary Vehicle Inspection Services (VVI) by Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) and mobile vehicle inspections at selected shopping malls.

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