JPJ To Ramp Up Heavy Vehicle Inspection Process At Puspakom

(Image source: The Star)

To make sure that the safety requirements for large and commercial vehicles are followed, the road transport department (JPJ) said it will conduct additional operational operations at Puspakom centres. This, according to Datuk Zailani Hashim, director-general of the department, was brought on by a rise in incidents involving large trucks.

“Based on police statistics, 19,888 lorries were involved in road accidents across the country between January and June. This is a 28% increase compared to the same period last year,” he said during a special operation carried out at a Puspakom centre earlier this week.

According to The Star, the operation's goals were to make sure that standard operating procedure compliance and vehicle roadworthiness were met. 256 automobiles in total were examined during the operation, and 73 citations were handed out.

Infractions included failing drug tests and not adhering to safety regulations. Three drivers were turned over to the national anti-drug agency after testing positive for narcotics (AADK). 140 automobiles also needed additional attention.

Zailani said the “end-to-end” inspection was specifically carried out on a Monday due to the high volume of vehicles sent to the centre. “On Mondays and Fridays, we get the most vehicles. On an average, we can inspect nearly 400 vehicles on a Monday,” he said.

He added that JPJ will make a number of changes to Puspakom's vehicle inspection practises. “We will increase the frequency of our inspection and audit operations at Puspakom, especially at offices that inspect heavy vehicles. The procedures to inspect items that require a high level of safety assurance, such as brakes, tyres and other components, will be checked again in the near future,” he explained.

He also further emphasised the importance of maintaining safety standards for commercial vehicles. “Heavy vehicles take longer to brake. They need more distance,” he said. This has been shown to be the case in two recent episodes, where a cement truck crashed into three vehicles on the North-South Expressway in July and a trailer smashed into 11 cars at a traffic light intersection in Shah Alam earlier this month.

(Image source: PaulTan)