The Malaysian Insight

MOTORISTS will have just a few hours left to shake off their bad driving habits as the automated awareness safety system (AWAS) will be implemented tomorrow.

Motorists who break the law under the system, which integrates both the automated enforcement system (AES) cameras and Kejara demerit points system, will automatically lose points.

Currently, demerit points are credited to traffic offenders when they pay their Road Transport Department fines or court summonses.

Points will be halved if the road user does not break traffic laws for a year or erased if a road user does not break traffic laws for two years consecutively.

There are 14 AES cameras in operation nationwide with seven more cameras to be installed soon.

Demerit points will be credited to traffic offenders who break any of the 23 offences under the Method of Road Transport (Demerit Points) 2017 Act.

The 23 offences range from not giving way to a vehicle in an overtaking lane to not wearing a safety belt while driving.

Under AWAS, each driver starts off with 0 points. If a driver reaches 20 points, he will get the first warning.

His driving licence will be revoked when he accumulates 60 points.

However, points that are accumulated will be halved if the road user has not broken traffic laws for a year or erased if a road user has not broken traffic laws for two years consecutively. Motorists can also be fined RM150 for the offences but they will not earn demerit points.

This system was to be launched in May last year, however, it was pushed to April 15, tomorrow. The Road Transport Act was amended in 2016 to allow for the implementation of AWAS. – April 14, 2017.