The Transport Ministry considers mandatory defensive driving courses for drivers with traffic offence records or suspended licences to improve road safety.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Transport is considering making defensive driving courses mandatory for drivers with traffic offence records or suspended licences.
Minister Anthony Loke said this new approach aims to shift focus from merely passing licence tests to improving practical driving skills and accident avoidance techniques.
“This is a new approach we want to introduce, either by mandating or encouraging drivers with suspended licences and similar cases to return for defensive driving courses,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.
Loke was responding to a query on proposals to review the motorcycle licence training curriculum.
The ministry will also target student motorcyclists through more focused interventions agreed with the Education Ministry.
The MyLESEN B2 programme, previously for the B40 group, will now be offered in secondary schools to provide formal training for students riding to school.
A free helmet exchange programme will also be restructured to focus on these students.
Loke said the Safe School Zone initiative supports a 30km/h speed limit around schools with improved safety infrastructure.
Motorcyclists accounted for 66.4% of total road fatalities last year, with those aged 16 to 30 forming the largest victim group.
Key accident factors include risky behaviour, mixed traffic interactions, insufficient riding skills and low safety awareness, according to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research.
