GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) hopes the implementation of non-compoundable traffic offences will serve as an effective deterrent to traffic violations in the country, thus reducing the number of accidents and fatalities.
In welcoming the steps taken by the Transport Ministry towards the seven traffic offences that would be non-compoundable throughout the Chinese New Year festive season this year, CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said such measures should not be restricted to only during festivals but applied throughout the year.
"This means that those caught flouting the seven offences will not be offered a fine but will be referred to the courts instead.
"This is a welcome move and we hope its implementation will serve as an effective deterrent to traffic violations in the country, thus reducing the number of accidents and fatalities," he said today.
The seven major traffic offences were cutting queues, overtaking on double lines, disobeying the red light signal, driving over the speed limit, use of mobile phones while driving, not wearing a seat belt or helmet, and driving in the emergency lane.
Mohideen said statistics released by the police revealed that a total of 402,626 road accidents were recorded in Malaysia from January to September last year 2022, resulting in 4,379 fatalities.
He said this was a jump from the 255,532 road accidents from the same period in 2021, in which 3,324 deaths were recorded.
"The numbers for the first nine months of last year represented a 58 per cent increase (or 147,094) in accident cases over that in 2021, while the death toll increased by nearly 32 per cent (or 1,055 fatalities).
"The high fatality rate of road users in the country is very disturbing and makes it imperative for the government to act swiftly and without any compromise," he added.
Mohideen also urged the government to immediately set up a Royal Commission of Enquiry to investigate the actual reasons for the escalating number of road accidents and deaths on Malaysian roads daily.
He noted that many factors had been identified as possible causes for this sad scenario, the most common being the "human factor", reckless driving being one example.
The poor quality of roads is also another contributing factor, he added.
"The Royal Commission of Inquiry which CAP is calling for should also look into ways the government can improve the present public transport system, which is in an atrocious state," he said.