Jakarta:The government has decided to amend the Road Transport Act 1987, requiring drivers involved in accidents while under the influence of alcohol or drugs to compensate the victims. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim highlighted this initiative during his presentation of Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, as of August this year, 28 fatal incidents have been recorded involving drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs. A particularly tragic incident on the eve of the last National Day resulted in the loss of four lives, including a family on the East Coast Expressway 1 in Temerloh.

A telematics system will be introduced for commercial vehicles to monitor speed, location, and risky driving patterns and will include integration with alcohol detection devices. This system will be mandatory, with voluntary implementation until 2027, as the government aims to build a driver database for enforcement purposes.

The Social Security Organisation (Socso) plans to issue health screening vouchers for commercial vehicle drivers to identify health risks that could impair their driving ability.

In addition to road safety measures, RM2.5 billion has been allocated for the maintenance of Federal Roads, with nearly RM800 million designated for G1 to G4 contractors. The budget for small-scale projects like pothole repairs has been raised to RM40 million, and state roads will be repaired using MARRIS funds amounting to RM5.7 billion.

Further infrastructure improvements include the construction of 15 motorcycle shelters, installation of 70 CCTV cameras along the PLUS Expressway, and the provision of 50 electric vehicle charging facilities at strategic locations by the Malaysian Highway Authority.