How will cancelling discounts on summonses impact road safety enforcement?

Question

Accepted Answer

Cancelling Summons Discounts Aims to Enhance Road Safety Enforcement Through Increased Accountability

Transport Minister Anthony Loke plans to engage with Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss the full enforcement of traffic summonses, aligning them with fines issued under the Automated Awareness Safety System (AwAS). This initiative seeks to standardise road regulation enforcement and foster a stronger deterrent effect by removing discounts on summonses, thereby encouraging greater accountability among road users and prioritising road safety. The Road Transport Department (RTD) has observed a significant number of unpaid summonses, with only 11 per cent of over 90,000 issued since the Automated Enforcement System (AES) was taken over being settled within the stipulated 60-day period.
Standardising Enforcement Across Agencies

Currently, the Transport Minister's authority does not extend to traffic summonses issued by the police, which fall under the purview of the Home Ministry. Loke's proposed discussion with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin aims to bridge this gap, thereby creating a more uniform approach to traffic law enforcement. This collaborative effort is intended to ensure that all traffic offenders face consistent penalties, regardless of which authority issues the summons.
Fostering a Climate of Fear for Offenders

The cancellation of discounts on summonses issued since September aims to avoid sending mixed messages to the public. By removing incentives for delayed payment, the policy intends to impress upon road users the seriousness of traffic offences and their financial consequences. The objective is to cultivate a "climate of fear" among potential offenders, encouraging them to refrain from committing violations and to take road safety more seriously.
Enhancing Road User Accountability

The underlying principle behind these policy adjustments is to ensure that road users prioritise safety. Providing discounts may inadvertently lead to indifference towards summonses, diminishing their impact as a deterrent. By requiring full payment upon commission of an offence, the authorities aim to make the consequences of non-compliance more tangible, thereby promoting responsible behaviour on the roads.
Addressing Low Summons Payment Rates

The RTD's experience highlights a substantial challenge in summons collection, with a low payment rate of 11 per cent for over 90,000 summonses issued. This situation underscores the need for more effective enforcement mechanisms. The ultimate consequence of non-payment, including potential arrest warrants and blacklisting that prevents road tax renewal, is intended to serve as a strong motivator for compliance.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How will cancelling discounts on summonses impact road safety enforcement?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends