KUALA LUMPUR: The hassle and shame of appearing in court could deter people from reckless driving, said experts.
"This approach requires offenders to appear in court, and the inconvenience of attending court may encourage drivers to be more cautious and adhere to traffic laws," Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Associate Professor Dr Law Teik Hua told the New Sunday Times.
On Nov 20, police said they were exploring the possibility of hauling certain traffic offenders straight to court instead of offering them to pay a compound.
Law said there needed to be adequate public awareness and resources to support enforcement.
"It's crucial to communicate clearly with the public about enforcement so that drivers understand the consequences.
"Expanding the use of automated traffic enforcement systems, such as red-light and speed cameras, will ensure consistent and efficient enforcement."
Road safety activist Shahrim Tamrin backed the police's proposal.
"The minimum fine should be RM500, and those who fail to pay or attend court should be arrested and brought back to court. Magistrates should impose a minimum RM1,000 fine."
Shahrim, a former board member of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, criticised the practice of offering discounts on traffic fines, calling it counterproductive — even if major violations were excluded.
"Offering discounts sends the message that breaking traffic rules is acceptable and that the government isn't serious about saving lives on the road."
Shahrim suggested that the media "name and shame" offenders as a way to deter violations.
"Police should arrest those who fail to pay their fines and inform the press to cover the hearings, and capture photos of offenders."
He said there should be harsher penalties, and the proposal to amend the Road Transport Act to increase the minimum compound for major offences to RM1,000 should be revisited.
Shahrim urged authorities to leverage technology to make enforcement more effective.
"The police and the Road Transport Department should also encourage the public to lodge complaints of red-light running and provide evidence such as dashcam footage," he said.