The Road Transport (Amendment) Ac 2020 (RTA) came into effect on the 23rd October. This amendment brings heavier penalties for traffic offences, particularly those related to Sections 41 to 45.
The amendments include Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), involving the offence of causing death by reckless or dangerous driving, namely imprisonment for five to 10 years with a fine of RM20,000 to RM50,000.
Amendments were also made to Section 44 of the same Act involving the offence of causing death by reckless or dangerous driving and divided into two categories, namely cases causing injury and those resulting in death.
Those causing death while driving will be jailed between 10 and 15 years and fined between RM50,000 and RM100,000, with the driving licence being disqualified for a period of 10 years for first-time offenders.
The amendment also carries a jail term of 15 to 20 years, a fine not less than RM100,000 and a maximum fine of RM150,000, as well as the licence being disqualified for a period of 20 years, for subsequent offences.
Besides, the amendment brought new alcohol content limit of 22 micrograms in 100 milliliters (ml) of breath; 50 milligrams (mg) of alcohol in 100 ml of blood and 67 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of urine.
In light of the above, we should always take a reasonable care our safety and the safety of other road users as well. These latest amendments are brought into effect to create greater public awareness among road users to obey traffic laws and ensure that our roads will be safer for all. Here, the transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong emphasize that the law was not meant to deprive people of their right to consume alcohol, where he said
“It doesn’t matter to me if you want to drink all you want and even swim in a pool of alcohol, but it becomes my concern when you drive after doing so”.
