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SHAH ALAM – The government will amend the Road Transport (JPJ) Act to require drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs to pay compensation to their victims.
In tabling the 2027 Budget, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim cited a crash on the eve of National Day at the LPT1 highway in Temerloh, in which four people were killed, including a couple and their young child.
He said that as of August this year, 28 deaths had been linked to drunk drivers or drivers under the influence of drugs.
“Tragedies like this shake our conscience, showing that even though enforcement has been tightened, violations of the rules remain worrying,” he said at the Dewan Rakyat, today.
As a firmer measure, he said the government will also make telematics systems mandatory for commercial vehicles to monitor speed, location and risky driving patterns.
He said the systems will also be linked to alcohol detection devices, which drivers must use before starting a journey.
Implementation will be voluntary until 2027, while the government develops a driver database for enforcement purposes.
The Prime Minister added that the Social Security Organisation will provide health screening vouchers to commercial vehicle drivers to detect health risks that could affect their ability to drive.
