Impounded by RTD: Buses without valid road tax and insurance taken away due to lack of legal documentation.
In a significant move towards enhancing the safety of long-distance bus travel, the Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) has been conducting extensive checks on express and tour buses across the country. The operation, which ran from December 31 until Monday this week, saw a total of 415 buses being inspected[1].
The primary focus of these checks has been on **ensuring compliance with mandatory seatbelt regulations**. Since July 1, it has been compulsory for all drivers and passengers on express and tour buses (manufactured after January 2020) to wear seat belts[1]. As a result, a substantial number of summonses were issued during the operation. A total of 285 summonses were issued, with 238 going to express bus passengers, 43 to tour bus passengers, and 24 to bus drivers[1]. Those who fail to comply with the seatbelt rule face a fine of RM300, and bus companies may also face legal action if they fail to ensure passenger safety[1].
In addition to seatbelt compliance, the JPJ has also been monitoring other traffic offenses. Passengers are advised to take note of offenses such as overtaking on the double line, smoking while driving, using a handphone while driving, and driving on the right lane for long periods[2].
The operation, which was conducted nationwide, was aimed at ensuring the safety of the vehicles and their passengers[1]. A total of 112 Road Transport Department (RTD) officers participated in the operation, and undercover police officers were also deployed to monitor compliance during trips[3].
The operation was overseen by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, who issued a statement regarding the checks. The statement was issued in Kuala Lumpur[1]. The RTD also distributed complaint forms to passengers of express buses, allowing them to report any instances of driver behavior or attitude that they deem inappropriate[3].
Action was taken against 94 buses, committing 176 offences[1]. The statement was issued yesterday, and the operation lasted for 11 days[4]. The JPJ's efforts underscore their commitment to improving the safety of long-distance bus travel in Malaysia.
[1] Bernama, 2023. [2] Unnamed source, 2023. [3] Unnamed source, 2023. [4] Unnamed source, 2023.
The JPJ, in their commitment to improving transportation safety, is not only focusing on seatbelt compliance but also monitoring additional traffic violations such as overtaking on the double line, smoking while driving, using a handphone while driving, and driving on the right lane for long periods in the finance-driven public-transit industry, including the automotive sector. In line with this, the Road Transport Department (RTD) distributed complaint forms to passengers on express buses to aid in reporting any inappropriate driver behavior or attitude.
