Transport minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has instructed the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to synchronise its list of blacklisted drivers with those of the police and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) in order to stop errant motorists from renewing their driving licences, according to The Star.
The Bentong MP said that he was aware JPJ was unable to suspend the licences of those present on the police’s blacklist because of a lack of synchronisation between the software used by the two agencies, as well as SPAD. “I have directed the JPJ director-general to come up with a programme to synchronise the list, so that the JPJ will be informed of the police list and we can take action to blacklist the drivers,” he said.
Liow remarks were in response to a report which stated that thousands of motorists and commercial vehicle drivers were still able to renew their licences, as JPJ could not immediately access the police’s blacklist of errant motorists.
This comes after an express bus collided into 10 vehicles along the North-South Expressway on Sunday, allegedly due to a faulty brake system – it was revealed that the driver had nine outstanding summonses.
Liow assured that services were being improved periodically to reduced road accidents, adding that the ministry was relying on the implementation of the Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS), which combines the Automated Enforcement System (AES) and the Demerit Points System (Kejara), to suspend the licences of reckless drivers.
“We will take action against the defaulters, especially with the AWAS programme when it is launched with the demerit Kejara system. We will be able to cancel their licences,” he added.
Liow claimed back in February that the AWAS system would be a more holistic approach in reducing road accidents, compared to higher compound fines. In May, the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill was passed to allow the system to be introduced, and it is now in the process of being sussed out.
The minister said that one AWAS was implemented, the demerit system would be used against errant drivers – demerit points would be given for each offence, and if a driver reached the maximum allowed points, their driving licence would be suspended.
