JPJ Will Fine Express Bus Drivers For Illegal Drop-Offs

Express bus drivers have been warned by the Kedah Road Transport Department (JPJ) that they will be issued immediate traffic summonses if they drop off passengers in prohibited areas.

Its director Stien Van Lutam reported that two such violations have been discovered since the start of a two-week Hari Raya Aidilfitri special operation on March 24, which is focused on monitoring express buses.

Bernama reported that the first case involved a 29-year-old express bus driver traveling from Ipoh to Sungai Petani who dropped off passengers in a restricted area outside the designated terminal. The second case involved a 27-year-old driver who committed the same offense while overtaking on a double queue on a route from Alor Setar to Kelantan.

“We issued summonses because they persist in breaking the rules. This isn’t just about violating regulations.It puts passengers at risk and contributes to accidents and traffic congestion when buses stop outside terminals,” he said. According to Van Lutam, 271 law enforcement officers will participate in a 14-day operation, ending on April 8, to monitor buses and apprehend drivers who commit any of the nine primary traffic infractions. These infractions include speeding, running red lights, passing on double lines, using a cell phone while driving, and using the emergency lane.

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) conducted a week-long statewide pre-Hari Raya operation exercise from March 16 to 23, inspecting almost 500 express buses. 11 buses were given non-roadworthy notices and prohibited from operating over the holiday.