Police launch Highway Investigation Unit for faster traffic probes (Updated)

ULU BERNAM: Police today launched a new traffic police sub-division called the Highway Investigations Unit (HIU) to facilitate investigations into minor accidents on highways.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, who launched Ops Selamat 12 in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year at the Ulu Bernam rest and recreation area at the North-South Expressway (NSE), said the HIU will be introduced in phases throughout the highway passages in three zones in the peninsula ( Perlis to Ipoh, Ipoh to Seremban and Seremban to Johor) and later in east Malaysia.
"The unit comprises 63 rank and file personnel tasked with conducting investigations into minor accidents along the NSE. The concept of the unit is that traffic policemen will be equipped with e-IP or Electronic Investigations Paper.
"The e-IP allows investigators to immediately provide the complainant with the case verdict as soon as investigations are completed," he told a media conference here today.
During the trial stage that was implemented in September 2016, a total of 812 cases were investigated by the unit with more than 90% positive feedback on HIU.
Mohamad Fuzi also said Ops Selamat, an operation to lower crimes and traffic mishaps during festive seasons, recorded 235 fatal accidents last year as compared to 261 in 2016, while deaths showed a drop of 22 cases to 257 cases last year, compared to 279 cases in 2016.
He said the number of accidents during the Chinese New Year festive period increased from 19,572 in 2016 to 20,752 last year.
"Our aim is to lower both fatal and non-fatal accidents across the board," he said, adding that police would collaborate with the agencies such as the Malaysia Highway Authority, Fire and Rescue Department, Road Transport Department and the Civil Defence Force.
Ops Selamat will commence on Feb 9 and end on Feb 23.