PDRM Suggests Making Dashcams Compulsory for All Road Users

PDRM’s Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department suggests making dashcams compulsory for all road users.

The Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has suggested making dashcams compulsory for all road users as part of an effort to strengthen enforcement and road safety.

Speaking to Astro Awani, JSPT deputy director (enforcement/traffic control/summons management) Mohd Rozi Jidin said that for now, dashcams are still considered as an accessory and are not compulsory.

That said, the deputy director continued by saying it is time for the authorities to reassess that stance, further suggesting that the public could play the role as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the authorities to report any traffic incidents and help them in strengthening enforcement.

JSPT Deputy Director Mohd Rozi Jidin (photo credit: Astro Awani)

“It’s time that our country can perhaps set conditions or obligations. For now it’s not compulsory, more of an accessory, but perhaps it’s time for us to make it compulsory so that all road users can be the eyes of the authorities, where offences can be recorded and reported,” he commented.

Mohd Rozi also said that JSPT is planning to create a mechanism that will grant merit or incentive for members of the public who report traffic offences via their dashcam recordings. The deputy director elaborated that these incentives could come in the form of summons discounts for those who are active in submitting these reports.

That said, the deputy director insisted that this suggestion is still in the planning stage for JSPT, although he further added that the department has received numerous positive feedback from the members of the public in support of widening the use of dashcams in enforcement.

“This is still in JSPT’s planning in the context of dashcams. Maybe when it’s time for summons discounts, those who didn’t report (offences via dashcam) won’t get it, but those who do will have an advantage,” Mohd Rozi added.

Prior to this suggestion, transport minister (MOT) Anthony Loke previously said that the ministry has no plans to make the fitment of dashcams mandatory in all vehicles, citing the cost to own a dashcam as one of the biggest issues. That said, what do you think of JSPT’s suggestion to make dashcams compulsory and the subsequent reward system?