TS,Friday September 23, 2011
I refer to “Snitch on traffic offenders” (The Star, Sept 22) and wish to applaud the writer for his novel idea.
However, his proposal is not recommended and unlikely to bear fruit.
The public should not be encouraged to record evidence of traffic violations.
It is illegal and dangerous to use the handphone or camera while driving or in start-stop traffic.
Apart from risking an accident, those caught in camera can turn violent.
As such, it would be better for the authorities such as traffic police, Road Transport Department and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to appoint companies for the job.
The camera crews should don bright uniforms and in full view of the public to deter traffic violations.
The hardcore and habitual violators, such as those jumping red lights, causing gridlock at yellow boxes or driving on emergency lanes will continue to be caught.
I made a presentation at a road safety seminar in 2003 and proposed that the surveillance part of enforcement be privatised to overcome the shortage of enforcement officers and static cameras.
My proposals were widely reported and was published full-page in a Malay broadsheet newspaper (Berita Minggu) on Dec 14.
Since January 2010, I have written scores of letters that were published in several English newspapers but have not seen any reply or response by the authorities.
If I have but one chance to propose something to the Prime Minister, I would say save the millions of ringgit needed to install static cameras.
They are only good at recording but not deterring traffic violations.
Large corporations with the funds to hire and train camera crews and using state-of-the-art technology can swiftly transmit the recording for the authorities to issue the summonses.
The ex-servicemen from the various enforcement agencies can be roped in as camera crews in this highly profitable venture.
Bringing order to our roads will also reduce crimes.
Conversely, if it remains unchecked, the ‘seeds of lawlessness’ is planted each time a traffic violation occurs.
Of all the ‘broken windows’ that need to be fixed, there is none more urgent than what we have on our roads.
YS Chan
Kuala Lumpur
No comments:
Post a Comment