Integrated database on drivers of heavy vehicles planned for more effective enforcement, monitoring

The Malaysian government, through the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) is planning the development of an integrated, inter-agency database on drivers of heavy vehicles for more effective enforcement and monitoring, reported Bernama.

The intention is to identify drivers’ past records at an early stage and prevent those with repeat offences from continuing to operate, said deputy transport minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah.

“The development of this system will be carried out in phases, with a focus on integration with existing databases on the road transport department (JPJ), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and other relevant agencies, in line with the Malaysia Road Safety Plan 2022-2030,” the deputy transport minister said.

“One of the objectives is to enables data-sharing. With advanced digital technology, all this can be done, where we can merge and share data,” he continued. Data integration would allow authorities to verify the backgrounds of existing drivers and new recruits, which will support more targeted intervention, he added.

The government is also moving away from solely placing responsibility on the drivers of heavy vehicles, and will hold the operators accountable to ensure that they actively monitor the discipline, records and qualifications of drivers they employ in order to prevent repeat incidents involving drivers and vehicles with prior traffic offences, he said.

“You pay the driver, you engage the driver, you should monitor your driver as well. Failure by operators to comply with these requirements may result in enforcement action, including suspension or revocation of operator licences,” the deputy transport minister said.

Under existing enforcement measures, heavy vehicle drivers are subject to provisions under the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) which includes suspension of revocation of driving licences as well as vocational licences, such as the public service vehicle (PSV) and goods driving licence (GDL), as well as fines, prosecution and demerit points for repeated or serious offences.

Meanwhile, the phased implementation of speed limitation devices (SLDs) in commercial vehicles has seen 63,127 out of 513,679 commercial vehicles installed with the devices, and the JPJ will continue enforcement of the installation of SLDs on commercial vehicles, Hasbi said.