Transport Ministry Weighs New UN Standards For Vehicle Safety

Malaysia may soon adopt a set of new international vehicle safety rules, as the Transport Ministry looks into bringing in standards currently used worldwide.

Responding in Parliament to Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan (PN–Merbok), the ministry said the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has been tasked with studying the impact and suitability of these measures before they can be applied locally.

The rules under review are drawn from United Nations (UN) regulations, covering technologies aimed at reducing accidents and protecting vulnerable road users. 
Among them are brake assist systems (UN R139), blind spot detection for bicycles (UN R151), and automated lane-keeping systems, or ALKS (UN R157).

"Another key measure, UN R166, requires vehicles to be fitted with systems that can detect pedestrians or cyclists close to the front and sides of a vehicle," it said.

The ministry further stated that adopting such standards could help improve road safety, especially given the rising concerns about accidents involving heavy vehicles.
“These regulations are designed with global best practices in mind. JPJ is reviewing whether they can be implemented in Malaysia to strengthen protection for all road users,” it noted.