KUALA LUMPUR: Despite numerous cautions, Malaysians are still using the emergency lanes as a route to beat traffic.
Between May 22 and June 24, a total of 429 complaints involving 1,266 vehicles were received on vehicles using the
emergency lane. Road Transport Department Director General Datuk Nadzri Siron said from the total, 219 notices were issued to the offenders.
“Those who have received the notices have only 21 days from the day of the release to come to the RTD office to respond.
“The offence carries a RM2,000 fine or six months’ jail or both, if convicted,” he told a press conference at Sungai Besi toll plaza here today.
Nadzri said the public could also lend a hand by snapping pictures of vehicles which use the emergency lane. “They can snap a photo and email us.
We will use that as a proof to issue an investigation notice and to be used in court later,” he said.
Nadzri said RTD would also station its enforcement officers at specific locations where motorists would usually ‘cheat’ by using emergency lanes.
On May 22, two siblings were involved in an accident at KM228 of the North-South Expressway near Simpang Ampat in Alor Gajah, Malacca.
They died of their injuries after an ambulance despatched to rescue them failed to arrive on time as motorists had jammed up the emergency lane.
Meanwhile, a total of 5,125 vehicles have been inspected during Ops Hari Raya Aidilfitri and from the total, 1,913 drivers were found to have committed various offences.
Topping the list of offences were 469 cases of people driving without licences.
Op Hari Raya Aidilfitri will see RTD deploying 1,800 officers between June 29 and July 13.
The teams would focus on seven serious offences — overtaking at double lines, driving on emergency lanes, talking on the phone while driving, running red lights, not wearing helmets, not using seat belts and jumping queues.
Nadzri said undercover officers would take photos of motorists committing the offences, and the department would then send a notice to the driver.
“The motorist involved will be investigated, before summonses are issued.” Nadzri said the department had also deployed undercover teams to monitor bus drivers.
He said officers would randomly board buses to their destinations, and note the driver’s offences. “If they break the law, we will issue summonses on the spot.
“Besides undercover operations, we also sent teams to check on condition of buses and drivers at depots nationwide,” he said.-nst
