In August last year, amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 to increase penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and drugs as well as for reckless driving was read, tabled and passed by the Dewan Rakyat, and came into force in October.
The amendments to Sections 41 to 45 of the Act introduced heavier penalties for serious driving-related offences. For example, those convicted of causing death due DUI (under Section 44) now face a jail sentence from 10 to 15 years and a fine of between RM50,000 to RM100,000 for the first offence as well as being disqualified from holding a driving licence for at least 10 years. It’s a substantial increase from the previous three to 10 years jail sentence and RM8,000 to RM20,000 fine.
A year on, the transport ministry is looking at whether these measures have been effective at reducing instances of DUI, The Star reports. According to transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, the ministry has commissioned the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) to find out if the harsher penalties have helped reduce such occurrences.
“The transport ministry has requested MIROS to conduct a study on the effectiveness on all intervention measures carried out by the ministry and all stakeholders to address the issue of driving under influence, as the (amended) laws have been enforced for almost one year now,” he said at the Dewan Rakyat earlier this week.
He added that the study would also include recommendations for intervention measures to tackle the DUI issue in the future. At present, Wee said the ministry will continue to work closely with the police and home ministry to strengthen enforcement and conduct advocacy campaigns. The ministry had in June last year conducted a survey on introducing stricter DUI enforcement before the laws were amended.
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The biggest problem is enforcement. Every time, we only knew it after accident. It will be better to alert people to prevent it happen; not punishing people heavily after damage has already been made.
If people refuse to learn before, they will learn after. Preferably in the afterlife. Dredd agrees.
what? baru nak buat ke? bukan benda ni continuous?? ape lanjiao ni
Should I agree? I don’t think so. So many people drive wrong way on highways, on the fast lane some more. Why it’s like nothing has been done to combat this instead? Head on collision, will result in casualty more than front to rear collision. It’s becoming a new norm, then when caught, say got oku card and nothing can be done. Yes, they got oku card. So what? Got oku card then can drive recklessly and kill?
DUI, most drunk people drive in a way that is obvious in showing the driver is drunk. You all reduce alcohol tolerance level, then go hike fines and all. I mean I’m totally fine with this, but there are more serious issues that need transport Minister’s attention.
The police will say the heavier fines is effective. Why? Cause from last year to this year probably 90% of the time pubs/clubs were closed due to MCO
Effective is effective. Heavy MCO fines also applies. Dredd agrees.
Yes, studying. After that higher fines and heavier penalty please.
No need to test laa. Ways of money and time. We have. miserably failed here.
Just take a seat at a traffic light junction and watch.
Motorcyclists ignores the red lights, vehicles beat the red lights and motorist still texting while green lights had changed. No signal lights when turning. Even the cops do these things.
Take the smoking law for instance.. Thousand ringgit fine.. And the authorities joins in to break the law altogether.
There is no leadership here in Malaysia!
Any offence can be reduced if heavier penalty! Try imposing RM100,000 fine or 5 years jail for beating the red light!
Should be dead sentence not just go to jail and pay some money…
YES! Effective. Cos MCO, of course less ppl out driving la
drivers who drink and drive deserve the death penalty. period.
just banned them from driving at least for five years