Recorded videos ineffective without active monitoring and supervisory system: Academic
PETALING JAYA: Calls to make in-cabin cameras mandatory on express buses are mounting after yet another case of reckless driving, but experts say the move risks becoming a superficial fix unless deeper enforcement failures are addressed.
The latest incident saw an express bus driver detained after footage showed him driving dangerously while carrying passengers. Police later confirmed he tested positive for methamphetamine, intensifying concerns over how driver conduct is monitored in real time.
The episode has once again thrust in-cabin cameras into focus – a measure long debated but still not enforced.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said the recurring nature of such incidents reflects an enforcement system that remains largely reactive.
“From the point of view of transport policy, the trend mentioned indicates an enforcement policy based on reacting to incidents.
“If intervention on safety relies heavily on evidence gathered after something has happened, namely public complaints, videos and crash reports, this suggests the system fails to monitor risks on a continuous basis, particularly for commercial passenger transport in which the risk level is relatively higher.”
He added that enforcement remains fragmented, with little coordination between agencies and no meaningful integration of real-time data.
“In the case of Malaysia, there appears to be inconsistency among agencies involved in enforcing laws in commercial passenger transport operations, as there is no integration of real-time data such as telematics.”
Law said while in-cabin cameras are often touted as a quick solution, he emphasised their effectiveness is conditional, not automatic.
“The data is somewhat inconclusive, however, leaning towards support with some caveats.”
He added that when paired with AI-powered driver monitoring systems, cameras could help curb distracted driving, mobile phone use and failure to wear seatbelts.
However, he cautioned against over-reliance on technology alone.
“It should be noted that cameras do not have much of an effect by themselves.
“Unless an active monitoring and supervisory system is in place, the technology would not work effectively; passive cameras recording the driving process for later analysis have minimal preventative capability.”
He said the limitations are evident in cases such as the recent incident, in which the driver was allegedly under the influence of drugs.
“These provide only partial remedies and not a full solution to the issue at hand.
“Telematic technologies such as speed tracking, heavy braking, lane departure monitoring and in-vehicle cameras could help detect unsafe driving behaviour and issue warning notifications.”
However, he emphasised that technology cannot detect everything, underscoring the need for additional safeguards such as pre-shift or random drug testing.
Law also said driver behaviour must be viewed within a broader structural context.
“The factors that contribute to crashes, such as fatigue, distraction and risky behaviour, are very much part of bus safety.
“However, the factors are often inseparable from the structural setting within which drivers operate.”
He pointed to long working hours, tight schedules, weak enforcement of rest periods and incentive structures as pressures that may push drivers towards unsafe conduct.
“Therefore, when we speak about behaviour being responsible for a crash, we should examine both the behaviour and its underlying causes.”
He said ultimately, Malaysia does not lack technology, but rather a coherent system to deploy it effectively.
“For Malaysia to make its mark in safety, what is needed is not another technological breakthrough, but a shift in its regulatory paradigm.”
He called for a mandatory, standardised framework integrating telematics, driver monitoring and regulatory oversight into a real-time system.
“This would allow regulators and operators to detect unsafe practices early and prevent escalation through timely intervention.”
“Adding cameras without such a system would achieve little.
“It is not about technology; it is about adopting a systematic, proactive approach that enforces accountability.”
The Transport Ministry has previously said it is exploring telematics solutions for buses and heavy vehicles, including proof-of-concept trials.
However, as incidents continue to surface, the question remains whether enforcement is able to shift from reacting to crises to preventing them altogether.
