RTD Suspends Vocational Licences of Commercial Vehicle Drivers Involved in Accidents

The Road Transport Department (RTD) will suspend the vocational licence of commercial vehicle drivers involved in road accidents while police investigate the case. The move is part of efforts to ensure all commercial vehicle drivers comply with road regulations. Drivers who are found guilty or issued a notice for violating any provision under the Road Transport Act will have their vocational licences revoked in accordance with Section 56(4)(b) of the act. The RTD will also require drivers involved in accidents, even if they were not at fault, to pass a refresher course before their vocational licence is reactivated.

Key Takeaways:

• The RTD will suspend the vocational licence of commercial vehicle drivers involved in road accidents while police investigations are ongoing.
• Drivers who are found guilty or issued a notice for violating any provision under the Road Transport Act will have their vocational licences revoked.
• The RTD will require drivers involved in accidents, even if they were not at fault, to pass a refresher course before their vocational licence is reactivated.
• The refresher course will cover driving competency, road regulations, safe driving practices, mindset change, and vehicle handling.
• Drivers will pay a fee to cover the cost of the training programme.
• The RTD has suspended five drivers, including the lorry driver involved in the accident that killed nine members of the Federal Reserve Unit on May 13.
• The RTD has also ordered a bus driver involved in the accident that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students to undergo a refresher course.

Statistics:

• 510 summonses had been issued since the enforcement of seat belt use among bus drivers and passengers on July 1.
• 80 summonses were issued to bus drivers.
• 396 summonses were issued to bus attendants and passengers.
• 26 summonses were issued to backseat passengers.
• 8 summonses were issued to bus companies for not installing seat belts.

Sources:

• "RTD suspends vocational licence of bus, lorry drivers involved in accidents," The New Straits Times, (no date provided) [1]
• "Road Transport Department (RTD) Director-General Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli," The New Straits Times, (no date provided) [1]
• " RTD suspends licence of bus driver involved in 2016 accident," The New Straits Times, (no date provided) [1]
• "Commercial vehicle drivers must comply with road regulations," The New Straits Times, (no date provided) [1]
• The Road Transport Act [2]
• The Public Service Vehicle licence [3]
• The Goods Driving Licence [4]