Jakarta:Amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) will require drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs who cause accidents to compensate their victims. This change is one of three key Budget 2027 initiatives welcomed by the Transport Ministry and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to enhance road safety and public welfare.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli emphasized that this measure will not only enforce stricter actions against offenders but also ensure victims and their families receive appropriate compensation. Additionally, the ministry and JPJ have endorsed the mandatory implementation of telematics systems for commercial vehicles. These systems will monitor speed, location, and risky driving behaviors, potentially incorporating alcohol detection devices. A voluntary implementation phase will continue until 2027, allowing commercial vehicle operators time to adjust, supported by a developing driver database for more effective enforcement.

The announcement also included special assistance of RM1,000 for taxi and school bus drivers, funded by bids for the H Series Special Registration Number (NPI), to be distributed from next week. Aedy Fadly highlighted that this initiative reflects JPJ's commitment to using collected revenue to benefit the public, particularly those in the transport sector.

Furthermore, the ministry and JPJ are collaborating with agencies like the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) to provide health screenings for commercial vehicle drivers, aiming to safeguard their safety and welfare. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim noted that 28 deaths involving drunk or drug-impaired drivers had been reported up to August this year. In his Budget 2027 speech in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar also confirmed the compulsory use of telematics systems for commercial vehicles and the provision of health screening vouchers by PERKESO for commercial drivers.