RTD welcomes 2027 Budget road safety measures, including victim compensation

PUTRAJAYA: Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs who cause accidents will be forced to compensate victims under proposed amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987.

Road Transport Department (RTD) director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the amendment was among three key 2027 Budget initiatives welcomed by the Transport Ministry and RTD to strengthen road safety and protect public welfare.

"This measure will not only strengthen action against offenders but also ensure that victims and affected families receive the appropriate redress," he said in a statement.

He said the ministry and RTD welcomed the mandatory implementation of telematics systems for commercial vehicles to monitor speed, location and risky driving patterns, including the potential integration of alcohol detection devices.

"The voluntary implementation phase until 2027 will give commercial vehicle operators time to prepare, while a driver database is being developed to support more effective enforcement," he said.

Aedy Fadly said RTD welcomed the announcement of special assistance of RM1,000 for taxi and school bus drivers, to be disbursed from next week using proceeds from bids for the H series special registration number.

"This initiative demonstrates that revenue collected by RTD is channelled back to benefit the people, particularly drivers who play an important role in the country's transport services," he said.

The ministry and RTD are working with relevant agencies, including the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso), to conduct health screenings for commercial vehicle drivers to safeguard their safety and welfare.

When tabling the 2027 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said 28 deaths involving drunk or drug-impaired drivers had been recorded up to August this year.

Anwar said the government would make telematics systems compulsory for commercial vehicles and that Perkeso would provide health screening vouchers for commercial vehicle drivers. - BERNAMA