MotoJaya

JPJ Discount Summons: Untung Ke Rugi for Road Safety, Riders?

Yo, geng riders! JPJ extending the RM150 flat-rate saman discount till end of 2025. Sounds good on paper, kan? But is it really making our roads safer, or just lining someone's pockets?

Rahman Hussin from My Mobility Vision raises some valid points. Over 2 million unpaid summonses are up for grabs with this promo, doesn't matter if you langgar lampu merah, speeding or reckless driving. But does this actually deter bad behaviour?

Traffic summonses are supposed to be penalties for doing something dangerous. Giving a blanket discount makes it seem like the seriousness of the offence tak kisah, as long as you pay when it's cheap.

"When we reduce enforcement to a year-end payment drive, we are not making roads safer. We’re making enforcement optional."

The Real Cost: Nyawa Kita!

Last year, Malaysia recorded over 585,000 road accidents. That's like, almost 2000 accidents PER DAY! And nearly 6000 deaths. That's a public health crisis, guys, especially for us motorcyclists. Over 4000 of those who lost their lives were riders or pillion passengers, mostly young people.

Think about it: are we encouraging dangerous behaviour by making enforcement optional? Are we telling people that they can just 'main tunggu' until the price drops?

UK's Tough Approach vs. Malaysia's 'Tunggu Discount'

Compare our system to the UK. They got structured, consistent enforcement. Penalties increase depending on how bad the offence is. Dah kena point kat lesen, still buat hal? The penalties get heavier each time, from warnings to license suspension. And now they're even using AI cameras to track repeat offenders. They treat enforcement as a tool to SAVE lives, not just to collect duit.

In Malaysia, it's like a waiting game. Tunggu number of summons pile up, offer discount, then repeat. But the accidents and deaths? They never stop. So, what's the solution?

Consistency is Key, Bukan Discount!

We don't need harsher laws; we need a system with consistency, certainty, and real consequences. If riders break the law, there must be action, not a window to negotiate. Enforcement should be part of everyday governance, bukan time nak dekat election je baru sibuk.

Remember, traffic laws are created to save lives. If enforcement is weak, we're betraying that very reason. We need to ask JPJ: Why are traffic rules treated like negotiable debts? Are they protecting road users, or just chasing unpaid invoices? Who benefits from these discounts, and who suffers? We cannot normalize leniency when so many lives are lost each year. Let's bring back meaning to enforcement, with clarity and consistency.

Because in the end, we're not just paying off summonses; we're paying for our silence. And too many are paying with their lives. Fikir-fikirkan lah!

Rahman Hussin is the chief strategy officer for My Mobility Vision, a transport think tank.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.