Press Digest - RTD considering more 'straight to court' traffic offences

TO reduce the burgeoning number of traffic offences and the relatively high accident rate, the Road Transport Department (RTD) is considering increasing the number of offences for which motorists will be hauled to the court directly.
At present, only motorists caught using the emergency lane are hauled straight to court.
RTD Direcror-General Datuk Seri Nazri Siron said apart from the offence of driving on the emergency lane, the department is looking at taking the motorists straight to court for offences such as using the handphone while driving, beating the red light, not wearing a seat belt, overtaking on the double lines, queue cutting and hogging the fast lane (for commercial vehicles).
Speaking to Sin Chew Daily in an interview, Nazri said the department is awaiting feedback from Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), Public Road Safety Council and the police on the feasibility of its proposal.
He said RTD needs time to study the proposal to avoid imposing double penalties on offenders as the six offences proposed for court action currently accumulate demerit points under the Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas).
"Under Awas, offenders face penalties such as fine and suspension of driving licence, (similarly) they will also be fined if charged in court will … we have to resolve this problem (of double penalties)," he said.
According to the report, RTD has issued 44,817 summonses to motorists for running the red light and speeding in less than two months since implementing Awas on April 1. Some 4,800 of these summonses were for running the red light.
At present, RTD takes stern action against errant motorists, including charging them in court, for offences such as beating the red light, overtaking on the double lines, using mobile phone while driving, driving in the emergency lane, queue jumping, not wearing the seat belt and driving in the fast lane when not overtaking (for commercial vehicles) only during festive seasons.
Nazri said currently, only those who abuse the use of emergency lane will be taken to court directly as they cannot pay the fine on the spot or at police stations.
He said the number of motorists caught driving on the emergency lane has gradually reduced since the imposition of hefty fine on offenders taken straight to court.
In the Ops HRA conducted between June 18 and July 2, only 211 summonses were issued against motorists using the emergency lane, he disclosed.