PDRM suggests compulsory dashcams, says it’s time for MoT to consider – incentives for those who report

PDRM is considering a suggestion to make dashcams compulsory for all road users as part of an effort to strengthen enforcement and road safety.

Mohd Rozi Jidin, deputy director I (enforcement/traffic control/saman management) at JSPT Bukit Aman said that for now, dashcams are still considered an accessory and are not compulsory, but it is time for that to be reassessed by the authorities, especially the transport ministry. He adds that the suggestion is for the public to be the ‘eyes and ears’ of the authorities.

“It’s time that our country can perhaps set conditions or obligations (syarat atau kewajipan). For now it’s not compulsory, more to an accessory, but perhaps it’s time for us to make it compulsory so that all road users can be the eyes of the authorities, where offences can be recorded and reported,” he told Astro Awani yesterday.

Mohd Rozi also said that JSPT is planning a mechanism that will offer merit or incentive to individuals who report traffic offences via dashcam recordings. He gave an example of future saman discounts for those who are active in sending information.

“This is still in JSPT’s planning in the context of dashcams. Maybe when it’s the time for saman discounts, those who didn’t report (offences via dashcam) won’t get it, but those who did so have an advantage,” he said, adding that JSPT has received positive feedback from the community in support of widening the use of dashcams in enforcement.

What do you think of this compulsory dashcam idea and a possible reward system? In 2024, amid similar suggestions, transport minister Anthony Loke said that MoT has no plans to make the fitment of dashcams mandatory in all vehicles. An issue to consider was cost, he said then.