Materia Medica Malaysiana

Thousands Of Motorcyclists Ride Under The Influence Of Drugs

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Between 10 and 15 per cent or 630,000 to 945,000 of the 6.3 million motorcyclists in the country are riding under the influence of drugs, Road Transport Department (JPJ) Director-General Datuk Emran Kadir said Thursday.
The JPJ discovered this trend after conducting operations and roadblocks, he said.
Although the percentage was small, it viewed the matter seriously, he told reporters after the opening of the Road Safety Council's 45th Annual General Meeting here.
"It is very dangerous to ride under the influence of drugs. It could explain the high number of road accidents and fatalities involving motorcyclists," he said.
An integrated operation would be intensified next year in addressing the problem as well as reducing road accidents and fatalities as a whole, he said.
He said the JPJ, police, National Anti-Drugs Agency, Royal Customs Department, Immigration Department, Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board and Anti-Corruption Agency would launch three to four operations a month next year compared with the current practice of having operations during the festive season.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy to reporters after opening the meeting that seat belts for bus passengers would be introduced next year in a move to reduce the impact of road accidents.
The installation of airbags for cars, confiscation of licences of drivers who commit serious traffic offences and the plan to limit the number of passengers in a car would also be carried out in stages starting next year.
Earlier, in his speech, Chan said a road safety department would be set up in every state next year to tackle issues relating to road safety and accidents more effectively.
The objective was to reduce road accidents and fatalities, conduct studies for input for road safety policies and activities and coordinate actions to promote road safety like improving roads in accident-prone areas and enhancing public awareness of road safety.
Chan said the Road Safety Council would continue to play its role as a consultative agency for the private sector to voice its views on road safety.