BUKIT MERTAJAM: Operators of heavy vehicle companies have been told to monitor their drivers through the Global Tracking System (GPS), especially along highways.
Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Datuk Adenan Md Isa said that a safety audit of accidents reported this year, as of November, found that 18 cases, including fatal accidents involving lorries, were identified to have been caused by the driver’s careless attitude or failure to obey road rules.
He said five of the accidents occurred along highways in the state while the rest were in other states but the companies which operated the heavy vehicles were based in Penang.
“After receiving the (accident) reports from the police, JPJ will conduct a safety audit by checking the GPS on the lorry to see if the company owner is aware of the mistakes made by their drivers, for example, the speed they were going at or any other complaints.
“That’s why we ask that companies monitor (drivers) through GPS installed in their vehicles... they should be responsible for their drivers adhering to the rules,“ he told reporters when met at Integrated Ops Patuh at the Juru Toll Plaza here last night.
Adenan said that if the audited companies are found to have not met the stipulated standards, then JPJ will recommend to the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to suspend the licence for a certain period that will be decided by the agency, which is usually from six months to a year.
Meanwhile, he said enforcement operations on the highway are carried out continuously to reduce the risk of accidents due to the negligence of drivers, who either carry excessive loads, drive vehicles that are damaged and not maintained, drive on the fast lane continuously or stop in the emergency lane.
Earlier, Adenan said a total of 536 notices were issued to errant drivers in an operation that also involved the Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department (JSPT), Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) and Department of Environment (JAS).
“Tonight’s operation is focused on commercial vehicles on the highway and among the common offences detected are continuous use of the fast lane, use of mobile phones, no driving licence and expired road tax,” he said.–Bernama
