In referring to the Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) recent announcement about the implementation of Automated Enforcement System (AES) which is purposely aimed to curb traffic violation such as speeding, running red lights, misusing emergency lane and illegal overtaking on double lines, Gerakan Head of Central Bureau on Environment, Safety and Quality of Life, Dr. Cheah Soon Hai welcomes and supports the implementation as he thinks that it is an effective countermeasure that can reduce the accident rates. At the same time, Dr. Cheah also calls upon the police not to neglect crime reduction efforts which he considers are more urgent comparing to solely focus on reducing accident rates by apprehending rule-breaking drivers, it is because the main concern among people is the surge of crime cases which are threatening the social order and causing unrest to the people.

In addition, he also urges the Ministry of Transport not to neglect the importance of education to instill the awareness of road safety among the public, it is because one’s driving attitude has always been the main factor leading to accident.

“According to the report conducted by Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), there are 24809 accident cases reported in 2011, where it rose for about 12.6% compared in 2010. Amongst the accident cases, it is reported that 6877 fatalities in accident which means that there were 19 deaths per day. In addition, there are currently 22 million registered vehicles in our country with an average annual increase of 1 million newly registered vehicles, coupled with poor road planning and the lack of road maintenance, which may have led to the increase in accident rates. Thus, it is necessary to take countermeasure,” says Dr. Cheah Soon Hai.

“The Automated Enforcement System (AES) implemented by Road Transport Department (JPJ) is aimed to enhance and make use of the drivers’ Perception of being Caught (POBC) in order to prompt the drivers to be more self-disciplined and remind themselves not to infringe the traffic rules. Although the AES has complemented the existing enforcement system to reduce the accident rates effectively, the Ministry of Transport should also employ other countermeasures including to improve and cultivate a good driving attitude through education to prevent accidents from happening,” adds Dr. Cheah Soon Hai, who is also Kedah Derga State Assemblyman.

Dr. Cheah suggests that the Ministry of Transport should organize more seminars and road safety campaigns in order to instill the publicwith the correct road safety awareness. At the same time, more safety awareness elements should be introduced into road safety syllabus to ensure the drivers have a proper moral consciousness on driving. In addition, he also suggests the police to blacklist those hardcore drivers who have repeatedly violated traffic rules, prohibiting them from renewing their driving license, road tax or even directly revoke their license as a punishment.

Dr. Cheah urges the drivers to observe traffic rules in order to prevent accidents from happening, which will bring serious harm and even death especially to road users who are innocent.