Law-abiding motorists to be rewarded, rule-breakers will get no discounts on samans

Transport Minister Anthony Loke, speaking to Malaysiakini, said that the ministry will discuss the plan to give prudent drivers discounts on their insurance, with the General Insurance Association of Malaysia soon.

To goal is to "start a new phase in Malaysia where its drivers are prudent and abide by the law".

The Road Transport Department (RTD) Traffic recently recorded a three-fold increase in traffic offences during the grace period where no summonses would be issued under the Automated Enforcement System (AES) operations between Aug 17 and 31.

Loke was quoted by Malaysiakini as saying that 45 AES cameras nationwide captured an average of 15,000 offences daily during the two weeks, compared to only about 5,000 daily previously.

"This means that many motorists went against the traffic law deliberately, knowing that they would not get tickets.

"This shows the attitude of some drivers who like to go against the law (when there is no enforcement).

"I am truly disappointed," Loke told reporters.

Loke announced that drivers who flout the rules will no longer be given exemptions or discounts on their speeding tickets and fines.

As of Sept 1, all offenders caught by AES cameras would be issued with an RM300 fine and also have their demerit points deducted.

The ministry was also studying the option of giving road tax discounts to disciplined drivers.

"We are continuing the demerit system that had been passed by Parliament during the previous administration, and we are also looking at improving it.

"Because we do not want the public to have the perception that the government only wants to punish them. Our aim is to educate, instead of only penalising people.

"That is why we plan to implement a system where good drivers will be rewarded as well, as we want to change the attitude of our road users into respecting traffic rules," he said.

Speaking about the discounts on insurance, Loke said: "(At the moment) it is quicker to do this through insurance NCD (no claim discount), where insurance companies give up to 55 percent discount to vehicle owners who have not made any insurance claims.

"We are going to sit down with the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) if discounts can also be given for motorists that do not have traffic offence records," he said, adding the association had also raised the idea during his recent meeting with them.

Loke said PIAM agreed that drivers without traffic offence records have low accident risks, and should be rewarded.

The news portal reports that Loke also said the Pakatan Harapan administration does not view traffic summonses as a source of revenue.

"We are not looking at traffic summonses from the revenue point of view. We would rather have no income from summonses as it means that no one flouts traffic rules anymore.

“What is the point of having high revenue when it means that the laws are being flouted by many, and there is a high number of traffic accidents?"