The government is planning to install more Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS) cameras across Malaysia, according to reporting by Bernama.
Previously known as the Automated Enforcement System (AES), the speeding and traffic light cameras have been successful in enforcing the speed limits and other road signages at their respective locations, reaching up to a 99% compliance level by road users according to a Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) study.
This was revealed in the parliament yesterday by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, while responding to a question from fellow member of the parliament, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, on the current status of AWAS cameras and its effectiveness.
“This has succeeded in increasing the perception of being caught for violating traffic rules, and in turn, reduced the risk of road accidents at the locations,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, stressing that the cameras are not intended to trap road users, but to enforce traffic rules for the safety of all road users, especially at black spots or accident-prone areas.
In addition to traffic enforcement, Hasbi added that the usage of these cameras can also enable enforcement around the clock, thus further reducing dependence on manpower.
Previously under the guardianship of a private concessionaire, the government now operates 45 AWAS cameras across the nation, with only one undergoing repair and maintenance.
ALSO READ: DBKL and MIROS to implement 30 km/h, 50 km/h speed limits in Kuala Lumpur
[Header image: Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia/Facebook]
