Latest news with #StienVanLutam
The Star
03-07-2025
- The Star
Bus passengers urged to buckle up
ALOR SETAR: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has started enforcement to inspect express and tour buses in several states, in line with the Motor Vehicles (Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems) Regulations 1978 Amendment (2008), to see if drivers and passengers comply with the ruling to wear seat belts. The operations, which have been carried out since Tuesday, also found that although some buses had seat belts on the passenger seats, they were not in working condition. For the first offence of not wearing a seat belt, the fine is RM2,000 or a jail term of not more than six months. Kedah Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Stien Van Lutam said they will be using undercover enforcement tactics to detect express and tour bus drivers and passengers who do not wear seat belts. 'Our enforcement is not limited to roadblocks or checks at bus terminals and rest stops. 'Through undercover operations, if drivers or passengers are found not wearing seat belts – and there is visual evidence – a compound will be issued. 'The use of seat belts is ultimately for one's own safety. In the event of an accident, we want to prevent passengers from being thrown from their seats due to not wearing a seat belt,' he said, Bernama reported. He said this during a seat belt enforcement operation targeting express and tour buses at the Alor Setar Toll Plaza (northbound) on Tuesday. During the operation, which began around 4.30pm, a total of 18 express and tour buses were inspected. Sixteen compound notices and two warnings were issued to passengers for not wearing seat belts. He added that inspections also revealed that many seat belts on the buses were not functioning properly, and JPJ will continue to work with the Royal Malaysia Police and other agencies to carry out similar operations periodically. 'This is a matter of safety. I urge bus operators to ensure that seat belts are available and in good working condition. 'In many cases, seat belts are fitted with the seats, but they're damaged or not usable.' Over in Selangor, checks by the state JPJ showed a high level of compliance from bus passengers using their seat belts following inspections carried out on 56 express buses and 26 tour buses. Of that figure, at least five were inspected at the Dengkil R&R Centre yesterday. JPJ officers were seen flagging down buses nearby along the Elite highway before forwarding them to the checkpoints there. Passengers were seen complying dutifully, with some even finding time to wave at the waiting media. Selangor JPJ director Azrin Borhan, who was on the ground, also personally spoke to several passengers and showed them the proper usage of the seat belts. Speaking to reporters after the checks, he said that he was pleased with the level of compliance in the state. 'We had checked five buses by random here and all passengers were found to have been wearing seat belts. 'Drivers also play an important role in reminding their passengers before heading off on their journey,' he said. Azrin said while the JPJ will issue summonses to those who do not comply, they will give reminders to underage passengers. 'Throughout these two days, we have found that almost all had obeyed the ruling. Continuous efforts will be conducted to ensure enforcement,' he said. Buses that had faulty seat belts will also be given strict reminders to rectify them 'as soon as possible'. 'If they still refuse to do so and ferry passengers, the bus owner will be issued a summons,' he said.
The Sun
02-07-2025
- The Sun
JPJ uses undercover ops to enforce seatbelt rules on express buses
ALOR SETAR: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will be using undercover enforcement tactics to detect express and tour bus drivers and passengers who fail to wear seatbelts. JPJ Kedah director Stien Van Lutam said the tactic enables immediate compound action to be taken against drivers and passengers who fail to comply with seatbelt regulations. 'Our enforcement is not limited to roadblocks or checks at bus terminals and rest stops. Through undercover operations, if drivers or passengers are found not wearing seatbelts - and there is visual evidence - a compound will be issued,' he said. 'The use of seatbelts is ultimately for one's own safety. In the event of an accident, we want to prevent passengers from being thrown from their seats due to not wearing a seatbelt. He said this during a seatbelt enforcement operation targeting express and tour buses at the Alor Setar Toll Plaza (northbound) yesterday. During the operation, which began around 4.30 pm, a total of 18 express and tour buses were inspected. Sixteen compound notices and two warnings were issued to passengers for not wearing seatbelts. He added that inspections also revealed that many seatbelts on the buses were not functioning properly, and JPJ will continue to collaborate with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and other relevant agencies to carry out similar operations periodically. 'This is a matter of safety. I urge bus operators to ensure that proper seatbelt facilities are available and in good working condition. In many cases, seatbelts are present on the seats, but they're damaged or unusable and that's unfair when enforcement is being carried out, but the facilities are inadequate. Starting yesterday, JPJ began full enforcement of seatbelt use for drivers and all passengers of express and tour buses, in line with the Motor Vehicles (Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems) Regulations 1978 Amendment (2008).
The Star
02-07-2025
- The Star
Buckle up: JPJ deploys undercover tactics to catch errant bus drivers, passengers
ALOR SETAR: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will be using undercover enforcement tactics to detect express and tour bus drivers and passengers who fail to wear seatbelts. JPJ Kedah director Stien Van Lutam said the tactic enables immediate compound action to be taken against drivers and passengers who fail to comply with seatbelt regulations. "Our enforcement is not limited to roadblocks or checks at bus terminals and rest stops. Through undercover operations, if drivers or passengers are found not wearing seatbelts - and there is visual evidence - a compound will be issued," he said. "The use of seatbelts is ultimately for one's own safety. In the event of an accident, we want to prevent passengers from being thrown from their seats due to not wearing a seatbelt. He said this during a seatbelt enforcement operation targeting express and tour buses at the Alor Setar Toll Plaza (northbound) Tuesday (July 1). During the operation, which began around 4.30pm, a total of 18 express and tour buses were inspected. Sixteen compound notices and two warnings were issued to passengers for not wearing seatbelts. He added that inspections also revealed that many seatbelts on the buses were not functioning properly, and JPJ will continue to collaborate with the police and other relevant agencies to carry out similar operations periodically. "This is a matter of safety. I urge bus operators to ensure that proper seatbelt facilities are available and in good working condition. In many cases, seatbelts are present on the seats, but they're damaged or unusable, and that's unfair when enforcement is being carried out, but the facilities are inadequate. Starting July 1, JPJ began full enforcement of seatbelt use for drivers and all passengers of express and tour buses, in line with the Motor Vehicles (Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems) Regulations 1978 Amendment (2008). – Bernama
New Straits Times
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
16 bus passengers fined RM300 each for not wearing seat belts
ALOR STAR: The Kedah Road Transport Department (RTD) issued compounds to 16 express and tour bus passengers for failing to wear seat belts during an enforcement operation yesterday. The operation focused on ensuring compliance with seat belt rules among drivers and passengers of long-distance buses. A total of 18 buses were inspected, including 14 express buses and four tour buses. Kedah RTD director Stien Van Lutam said two of the offenders were under the age of 18 and were instead given advice and advocacy, while the remaining 16 adult passengers were each issued a RM300 compound. He said undercover RTD personnel were deployed on board buses to discreetly monitor and record violations by drivers and passengers, with compounds issued on the spot based on the recorded evidence. "Our enforcement is not limited to roadblocks or terminal inspections. "We also carry out undercover operations inside buses. "If a driver or passenger is seen not wearing a seat belt, and we have visual proof, we will issue a compound," he told reporters when met after the operation near the North-South Expressway's Alor Star (North) Toll Plaza. Stien said that enforcement was carried out under the Motor Vehicles (Seatbelt) Rules (2008 Amendment). He advised passengers to notify the bus driver if their seat belt is not in working condition before the journey begins. Since Jan 1, 2020, express bus operators have been required to ensure that all seats are equipped with functioning seat belts. Meanwhile, buses built before 2020 will be given time to install seat belts. Starting from yesterday, express and tour bus drivers and passengers are required to wear seat belt s.
