ALOR STAR: Despite warning, several express bus drivers were still caught using mobile phones while driving by the Road Transport Department (RTD) during Hari Raya Aidilfitri operations (Op HRA) 2024.
The act, including live streaming on TikTok, was detected by enforcement officers from Kedah RTD who went undercover on three express buses traveling from Kedah to Kuala Lumpur and Perak.
State RTD deputy director Shahrul Azhar Mat Dali said that such actions could pose a danger in the event of an accident as each bus carries a large number of passengers.
He said that two of the three drivers involved, aged between 52 and 54, were found guilty of using communication devices while driving under Section 17A(1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959.
"One driver was also found chatting on a mobile phone without reasonable cause and making a video call while driving. He is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the Public Service Vehicles (Licensing and Conduct of Drivers, Conductors and Passengers) Rules 1959.
"Even before Hari Raya, we had briefed bus operators, yet there are still some who continue to commit such violations.
"The responsibility of bus drivers is immense as they carry many lives, and if they lose focus for even two or three seconds, it could lead to serious accidents and fatalities," he said at a press conference at the state RTD headquarters here today.
However, Shahrul said that during Op HRA 2024, no public transport vehicles were reported involved in accidents due to the efforts of various parties in reducing accident rates.
"Besides these offenses, other violations were also detected, such as driving without wearing shoes and changing lanes without using the turn signal.
"Based on statistics during Op HRA 2024 from April 1 to April 20, the RTD have conducted inspections on a total of 54,821 vehicles throughout the state.
"Out of this total, 432 vehicles were seized, and 10,149 notices were issued, including actions against 223 foreign drivers," he said.
Shahrul said that the reported accident rate during that period was 651 cases compared to 609 cases last year.
"Although there is an increase in accidents, the reported fatal cases last year were 14 compared to only nine cases this year.
"This decrease in fatalities is the result of the responsibility of various enforcement agencies and compliant drivers in efforts to reduce accidents and deaths," he said.
He said that Op HRA 2024 was a joint operation involving the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), the Immigration Department, and the Police Department.
On April 7, RTD senior director (enforcement) Datuk Lokman Jamaanwarned express bus drivers caught using mobile phones while driving and live streaming through TikTok that immediate action would be taken during Op HRA 2024.
He said that undercover enforcement officers would be placed on every express bus to ensure that no one commits such offenses.
(https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nst.com.my/amp/news/nation/2024/04/1035...)