The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has begun enforcement of seat belt usage in buses, following its announcement last month. According to JPJ director general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, some 1,427 summonses has already been issued as of July 22, and the department will continue to carry out operations (ops) on a weekly basis.
Amongst the summonses issued, 280 of those were issued to bus drivers for failing to remind passengers to buckle up. Datuk Aedy says that JPJ will also be stationing JPJ officers in buses to monitor seat belt usage, and if the driver provides any guidance for passengers to fasten their seat belts.
This comes after the department announced that it will begin enforcing seat belt usage for all express buses, tour buses, and goods vehicles starting July 1. The enforcement will be carried out in stages; buses manufactured before January 1, 2020, will be given a deadline to install seatbelts in all passenger seats, in line with existing regulations.
Separately, the department is also currently working on a database for commercial and heavy vehicle drivers in the country, while the KEJARA demerit points system is also currently being revamped; drivers will be able to check their demerit points through the MyJPJ mobile app.
Vehicle inspections by Puspakom and other inspection centres are also currently being improved, with updated testing criteria for braking performance, tyre tread inspection, and other visual inspections. Additionally, JPJ officers carrying out safety operations and audits will now wear body-worn cameras in order to “increase transparency and effectiveness of enforcement”.
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