KUALA LUMPUR: The Alliance for a Safe Community has welcomed the Federal police's proposal to make running red lights a non-compoundable offence.
Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said it was time for authorities to take a serious approach to this issue.
"Issuing fines doesn't effectively solve the problem, as offenders simply pay and continue their dangerous behaviour.
"The proposal from the Federal Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department to make this a non-compoundable offence is a positive step," he told the New Straits Times.
Lee, who is also a member of the Road Safety Council, said that more drastic measures were needed.
"Road users must face significant penalties, such as being hauled directly to court, to deter them from running red lights."
He said that this common offence occurred frequently across the country, with impatient motorists posing a danger to others on the road.
"The reality is that beating traffic lights has become the norm for many drivers and motorcyclists.
"It's time for authorities to take strong action," he added.
Highlighting the grim statistics, Lee said a life was lost every 80 minutes due to road accidents, leading to an annual toll of 6,000 to 7,000 fatalities.
"This is a serious issue, and we cannot afford to ignore it. I urge the government to support the Transport Ministry and police in implementing measures to tackle this problem."
The proposal to make red-light violations a non-compoundable offence is part of broader efforts to curb traffic-related fatalities, with offenders required to appear in court rather than simply paying a fine.
Federal Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri confirmed that this was being considered as a strategy to address the rising number of accidents caused by motorists ignoring traffic signals.