What systemic issues allow commercial vehicles with numerous summonses to operate?

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Systemic Failures Permit Operation of Commercial Vehicles with Numerous Summonses

Commercial vehicles with extensive records of traffic violations continue to operate due to systemic failures in enforcement and a prevailing culture of negligence within the transport sector. Despite the existence of agencies and policies aimed at road safety, such as the JPJ, MIROS, and APAD, vehicles with numerous summonses, including those with faulty brakes, and drivers with significant misconduct histories remain on the roads. This situation is exacerbated by an episodic enforcement approach that contrasts with a constant culture of what is described as "engineered neglect" among commercial operators.
Inconsistent Enforcement and Cultural Normalisation of Risk

Malaysia's approach to road safety is characterised by reactive measures, with press conferences often held after tragedies rather than proactive prevention. This pattern is evident in the continued operation of vehicles and drivers with extensive summonses. For instance, a bus involved in a fatal accident that killed 15 students had accumulated 21 summonses, while its driver had 18 summonses, predominantly for speeding. This indicates a breakdown in systems designed to remove high-risk entities from public roads, allowing them to continue operating despite clear warnings.
Ineffective Accountability for Operators and Drivers

Current accountability mechanisms are insufficient to deter unsafe practices. Instead of being permanently removed, reckless drivers are often rotated to different services, and operators who face fines after incidents are permitted to continue their operations. This lack of stringent consequence for repeated violations fosters an environment where profit is prioritised over safety, leading to predictable fatalities. The article highlights that lorries alone have claimed 1,457 lives in the past six years, averaging one death every 36 hours, underscoring the persistent failure to address these systemic issues.
Regulatory Gaps and Policy Limitations

While various policies, audits, demerit point systems, and public campaigns are in place, their effectiveness is undermined by the continued operation of vehicles with unpaid summonses and drivers with poor records. This suggests a disconnect between policy intent and practical implementation. The lack of a robust mechanism to prevent the renewal of road tax or insurance for vehicles with outstanding summonses, or to suspend vocational licenses after a certain number of serious offenses, allows a cycle of non-compliance to persist. The article points to the existence of thousands of deaths in bus and lorry crashes since the turn of the century as evidence of these ongoing systemic shortcomings.

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What systemic issues allow commercial vehicles with numerous summonses to operate?

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