Mandatory Jail Term For Reckless Drivers Proposal is Made

27 January 2012 - According to reports of theSundaily, the government is considering enforcing andatory jail term which considered for reckless drivers who caused deaths in road accidents - provided it can reduce road accidents and fatality rates.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein told a news conference: "If the jail term can reduce the percentage of fatalities on the road, then we have no choice. Educating and appealing alone does not seem to work." Hishammuddin was responding to a statement made by Road Safety Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who called for a mandatory jail sentence to be imposed on reckless drivers who caused death in road accidents.

The idea was mooted in response to the 25th Ops Sikap, which saw an increase of 63% of traffic summonses, as compared with 59,065 summonses issued during the corresponding period of the previous operation. Speaking at a visit to the Youth Anti-Crime Shooting Simulation Training Centre at Rakan Muda Complex here today, Hishammuddin said the enforcement agencies and the government have tried to educate the public through awareness programmes and direct appeals.

However, he said, this did not seem to change the public's attitude and the fatality rate had increased. He said the decision lies in the hands of the attorney-general as it would involve amendments of the law.

Hishammuddin said the crime rate in general has gone down but the fear factor among people has not. "That is why we are approaching it in a different way. We need omnipresence like the joint patrol which would involve all enforcement agencies."

Asked if the 100,000 target can be achieved by March for the joint patrol, Hishammuddin said it was not difficult to achieve as Rela had 2.8 million personnel. "The 20,000 that have come forward are just from Rela and civil defence - the army and the strategic security will also be involved in this joint patrol. So it is not a big number to achieve." He said there would also be new recruitments to further increase the numbers.

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