RTD: 2,522 booked for using emergency lanes
MalayMailOnline
By Jasmine AndriaSeptember 29, 2016
Cars using the emergency lane (right) at Karak Highway. — Bernama picMore
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — The Road Transport Department’s (RTD) crackdown on errant motorists hogging the emergency lanes has intensified, thanks to 800 members of the public who furnished the department with photographs and videos of the offending drivers.
This has resulted in the department serving 2,522 notices to motorists driving on emergency lanes between May 22 and September 26.
The department’s eforcement director, Datuk V. Valluvan Veloo, said 52 individuals had been charged in court and were slapped with fines between RM1,000 and RM2,000 and the remaining offenders were expected to be charged soon.
Valluvan said 138 tip-offs were received during the Hari Raya Haji and Malaysia Day holidays, and letters of appreciation would be sent to those who had provided the tip-offs.
“There are still those who refuse to abide by traffic rules as they think we are not around to nab them,” he said.
“Little do they know the public have been feeding us information. We will be sending 'thank you' letters to those who have given us evidence of drivers misusing emergency lanes.”
Valluvan said the highest number of offenders were from Selangor (755), with Johor (449) coming in second.
He said the figures did not include Singapore registered vehicles as they were still allowed to enter and leave the country with unsettled summonses.
However, this would change once the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) was implemented as it would prevent Singaporeans from leaving Malaysia if they had not settled their summonses.
Valluvan encouraged the public to continue providing tip-offs on motorists who disobey traffic rules to aduantrafik@jpj.gov.my.
“Please include your name, pictures or videos and furnish us with your contact number,” he said.
He said arrest warrants had been issued to seven motorists for blocking the emergency lane in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, on May 22. Their actions prevented an ambulance from arriving at an accident scene which resulted in the death of two brothers involved in an accident.
He also said that ambulances without sirens could not use emergency lanes.
“They are only allowed to use the emergency lane when there is a real emergency. Those without sirens using the emergency lane will be investigated by the department,” he said.
