Road safety expert Shahrim Tamrim unveils a decade-long DUI strategy, calling for stricter limits, victim compensation, and new laws to achieve zero fatalities.
KUALA LUMPUR: Road safety activist Shahrim Tamrim has proposed a comprehensive 10-year DUI Road Safety Plan (2026-2035) aimed at drastically reducing fatalities from drug- and alcohol-impaired driving.
The plan’s short-term measures, slated for 2026-2028, include lowering the legal blood alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood to align with global standards.
It also proposes a ‘Zero Tolerance’ limit of 20mg for new probationary licence holders and commercial drivers such as bus and e-hailing operators.
“In addition, immediate action should be taken whereby, if a person fails a breathalyser test, their licence should be suspended on the spot through administrative suspension, before the case is brought to court,” Shahrim said in a statement.
He further advocated for a DUI victim compensation fund, financed by allocating 30% of all DUI-related fines to provide immediate financial support to families of fatal accident victims.
The medium-term plan (2027-2030) focuses on systemic reforms like introducing a new Impaired Driving Act and establishing a national offender database.
This phase also includes proposals for in-vehicle driver monitoring technology and special courts to expedite DUI cases.
The long-term vision for 2030-2035 targets ‘Vision Zero’, aiming for zero deaths from DUI through advanced automatic detection technology and integrating road safety education into school curricula.
Shahrim, a former board member of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, cited a 2012 MIROS study which found that 23% of drivers in fatal accidents tested positive for alcohol.
He expressed hope that a recent drunk-driving tragedy in Klang would catalyse immediate action to build a more effective and firm road safety system.