Continued engagements to encourage safe driving, says Loke

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be more engagements between the police and Road Transport Department (JPJ) to address enforcement against distracted driving, says Anthony Loke.

The Transport Minister acknowledged that there are no specific regulations that can control all possible situations that distract motorists, and in this regard, there is a need to refine and update the enforcement framework.

“We have discussed with traffic police at the JPJ level on enforcing related regulations. Of course, we are planning to hold more engagements.

“I do not foresee you can have one regulation that covers all situations, but there is room (for the authorities) to interpret some situations as not all activities or acts are covered under the law,” he told a press conference after launching the Malay­sian Driving Institute Association (Pima) annual general assembly here yesterday.

Loke was responding to questions on whether his ministry will consider including all forms of distraction, such as smoking and vaping, in the country’s laws as part of efforts to minimise distracted driving.

The Transport Ministry reported 915,874 road accidents in Malaysia between 2021 and 2022.

In 2022, there were 545,588 accidents with 6,080 deaths (1.1% fatality rate), and in 2021, there were 370,286 accidents with 4,539 deaths (1.23%).

A study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research revealed that human behaviour was the primary cause of road accidents, followed by road infrastructure, and vehicle conditions.

The Transport Ministry launched the Malaysia Road Safety Plan 2022-2030 to halve road accidents by 2030 through various programmes and strategies involving stakeholders from local communities and the private sector.