KUALA LUMPUR: Amending Section 45A of the Road Transport Act can significantly reduce dangerous driving behaviours, says an expert.
Lauding the Transport Ministry's initiative to amend the act, Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Associate Professor Dr Law Teik Hua said that this move reflected growing awareness of the risks associated with drug-impaired driving and aims to enhance deterrence and accountability.
"The proposed amendments have the potential to greatly improve road safety by instituting clearer and harsher penalties for drug-impaired driving.
"Stricter consequences might deter individuals from driving under the influence of drugs, thereby decreasing the number of drug-related accidents," he told the New Straits Times.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke earlier announced that the ministry was considering amending Section 45A of the Road Transport Act to impose stricter measures on drug-using motorists.
The proposed amendments, along with changes to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), are expected to be tabled during the third Parliament session at the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Law said that clearer legal frameworks and stringent enforcement could enhance the detection and prosecution of offenders, leading to safer roads.
He pointed out that countries such as Canada, Australia, and Sweden had successfully implemented rigorous measures to address drug-impaired driving.
"Canada has introduced roadside drug screening devices and penalties for drug-impaired driving similar to those for alcohol-related offences," he said.
"Australia conducts random drug testing at roadside checkpoints and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for certain drugs, while Sweden employs a mix of stringent laws and extensive public awareness campaigns to combat drug-impaired driving," he added.
Law said these approaches typically involved a combination of preventive measures, enforcement, and public education, all of which contribute to a reduction in drug-impaired driving incidents.