64 Per Cent Of Commercial Vehicle Operators Fail Safety Audit – JPJ

KOTA BHARU, June 29 (Bernama) -- The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has found that 64 per cent of commercial vehicle operators audited during the Special Operation on Safety Audit System Guidelines (Ops Khas JISA) failed to meet mandatory safety requirements.

Its director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the nationwide operation, which began on June 23, involved audits on 133 companies operating commercial vehicles. Of these, 85 companies failed to comply with JISA guidelines, while only 48 passed.

“The non-compliant companies comprised 43 lorry operators and 42 tour and express bus operators,” he said after attending JPJ’s Setia Khas Assembly here today.

Among the key violations were the failure to appoint occupational safety and health officers, lack of GPS installation in all vehicles, and poor GPS monitoring practices.

Many companies also failed to record drivers’ working hours, which must not exceed eight hours a day, and did not ensure a minimum 30-minute break every four hours of driving.

He added that some companies had no safety action plans in place and did not display hotline numbers or the names of responsible officers on their vehicles for public complaints.

“The department will submit the list of non-compliant companies to the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) for further action, including possible suspension or cancellation of operating licences.” he said.

Aedy Fadly stressed that JPJ will not compromise on safety and will continue to take firm enforcement action as part of efforts to enhance road safety and uphold the integrity of the national transport system. 

Meanwhile, Aedy Fadly said the department will begin enforcing seat belt usage in stages for all express buses, tour buses, and goods vehicles starting July 1.

He said the initial phase will focus on enforcement for drivers and passengers of express and tour buses, in line with existing regulations requiring seat belts to be installed in buses registered after January 1, 2020.

“Previously, we emphasised advocacy, but beginning  July 1, enforcement action will be taken against passengers who fail to wear seat belts, something that has not been implemented until now.

“For buses registered before 2020 that are not yet equipped with seat belts, JPJ will issue directives for installation within a timeframe to be determined under a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) currently being developed through engagement sessions with industry stakeholders,” he said.

He warned that non-compliance could result in RM300 fines not only for passengers and drivers, but also legal action against bus companies for failing to ensure passenger safety.

Aedy Fadly  added that most buses are now fitted with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and JPJ will use video footage as evidence to take action against drivers who do not ensure passengers are buckled up.

He also said the same seat belt regulations will be enforced on drivers and passengers of goods vehicles with a permissible maximum weight of up to 3,500 kilogrammes.

--BERNAMA