KUCHING: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) President Voon Lee Shan has called for amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 to impose stricter penalties on registered vehicle owners who allow unlicensed individuals, particularly juveniles, to operate their vehicles.
He stressed that the current law under Section 51 of the Road Transport Act 1987 allows vehicle owners to avoid liability by claiming a lack of consent or knowledge regarding the use of their vehicle by an unlicensed driver.
“The Road Transport Act 1987 must be amended to impose criminal liability on registered vehicle owners who consent to the use of their vehicles, resulting in accidents caused by unlicensed riders or drivers,” he said in a statement.
His statement follows a tragic multiple-vehicle accident on January 14 along Jalan Teo Kui Seng-Stutong Baru, which resulted in the loss of five lives.
The accident involved a car driven by a 16-year-old boy, highlighting the risks posed by unlicensed juvenile drivers.
It also reignited concerns over road safety and the enforcement of existing traffic laws, with many calling for stricter measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Voon, who is also a practicing lawyer, lamented that the incident could have been prevented if the registered owner had kept the vehicle keys out of reach.
As such, he called for harsher penalties for juveniles driving without a licence, including a lifetime ban on obtaining a driving licence for those causing fatalities.
“Juveniles below the legal age to obtain a driving licence who cause the deaths of other road users should, in addition to existing punishments, be banned for life from obtaining a driving licence.
“Currently, the Road Transport Act 1987 does not provide for such a penalty or sanction,” he added.
Additionally, Voon stressed the need for a five-year ban on obtaining a driving licence for juveniles convicted of traffic offences, including riding motorcycles without helmets.
He described such behaviour as a danger to public safety and urged authorities to address the issue urgently.
