Deterrence should be the key

TS,Tuesday 26 April 2011 

I refer to “No more hiding” (Sunday Star, April 24) and wish to thank the new Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar for announcing there will be no more “ambush” to nap speeding motorists. 

Ever since a public forum on road safety in 2003, I have been calling on the authorities to privatise the surveillance to private firms to videotape the numerous traffic offences occurring in the absence of enforcement officers. 

These camera crews should don bright uniforms and be in full view of the public when operating at strategic spots such as traffic junctions or selected highways. 

Some hardcore offenders will continue their antics, jumping red lights, causing gridlocks in yellow boxes, drive on emergency lanes or park indiscriminately. 

However, the presence of camera crews will deter the majority of motorists from committing traffic offences and have similar effect on street crimes such as snatch thefts. 

Likewise, motorists should be forewarned of fixed cameras. The aim should be to deter rather than allow offences to occur and then record the act. 

In this regard, fixed cameras are less effective than surveillance crews are, as many motorists are not convinced that all of them are functioning and the authorities have long waited for the budget to install them. 

Instead, the millions of ringgit needed to install fixed cameras can be saved by appointing private firms to complement the surveillance. They are bound to be efficient as payment will be based on clear evidence submitted and can be funded from a portion of the compound fines. 

Going by the millions of summonses issued for traffic offences over the years and offenders that were let off, we may have the highest percentage of traffic violations on a per capita basis. 

The shift of emphasis from waiting for motorists to commit offences to deterring is a welcome change, more so when a five-year analysis of official police crash statistics in United Kingdom revealed that driver error is 13 times more likely to contribute to an accident than breaking the speed limit. 

It is important for all enforcement agencies to take cognizance of the fact that a better gauge of their success is by reducing offences and crimes, rather than successful apprehension of the culprits. 

As such, it is hoped that others would emulate the lead taken by the police. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur