Road Transport Act to be reviewed periodically to address underage driving

PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry will conduct a review on fines against underage drivers as stipulated under the Road Transport Act 1987, says Anthony Loke.

Speaking to reporters after attending the ministry’s monthly assembly here on Wednesday (Nov 15), the Transport Minister said all provisions of the Act should also be reviewed from various aspects.

“(Regarding punishment) There is an existing law. Whatever fines are allowed under the current law are the maximum we can compound. In terms of the law, we will review it from time to time,” he said when commenting on the fine provided under Section 26(2) of the Act which is said to be too lenient.

The Act provides for a minimum fine of RM300 up to RM2,000 or imprisonment of up to three months, or both if convicted.

The latest incident involving an underage driver happened last Sunday in Penang where a 16-year-old boy driving his mother’s car was involved in an accident that caused two deaths on the Penang Bridge.

Asked if action would be taken against the parents of the underage driver, he said the Road Transport Department (JPJ) could not take action that exceeds its authority.

“Whatever provision we can use is under the current Act. We cannot go beyond that. So when we carry out a review, we will look into other aspects that have to be included,” he said.

Without setting a period for reviewing the act, Loke said the ministry would seek feedback from the public and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve the Act.

Meanwhile, commenting on the MRT incident on the Putrajaya route which experienced a schedule delay at 5.49pm on Tuesday (Nov 14) due to a power outage between the Conlay and Chan Sow Lin Station which caused two trains unable to move, Loke said it should not have happened.

“I am very saddened by this matter because this line has been opened for less than a year,” he said. The Putrajaya MRT line started operating on March 16.

Following that, Loke said he had asked MRT Corporation Sdn Bhd and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to provide a full report to the ministry. – BK