MOT: Dashcam Encouraged, Not Compulsory Yet

Transport Minister Anthony Loke indicated that there are no plans to compel the installation of dashcams in all vehicles yet. However, the minister did emphasise his ministry’s high encouragement for it.

This is despite the Ministry of Transport receiving numerous proposals on the subject; nonetheless, the ministry is also considering the cost implications of implementing it to the public.

"We definitely advocate the installation of dashcams, especially in new vehicles from manufacturers. If manufacturers can incorporate them into their new vehicles, we greatly support it, but it is not required at this time," Loke said during a media engagement session yesterday.

According to Bernama's report, Loke also encouraged bus operators to install dashcams, stating that recordings can be vital evidence in deciding culpability in road accidents. "Last year, there were 600,000 road accidents with almost 6,500 fatalities. Dashcams can provide evidence in an event of an accident, assisting in identifying responsible parties," he added.

Reflecting on the difficulties of enacting new safety measures, Loke noted the difficulty faced in legislating child seats, despite their seeming simplicity. He also underlined the substantial loss of life caused by road accidents, which he believes may be decreased by more cautious driving and attention to traffic rules.

"With an average of 15 to 17 deaths per day, each one is a preventable tragedy. Road accidents can be avoided if all drivers take a cautious approach and follow traffic laws," he said.

Presently, a handful of car brands equip new cars with dashcam, some of which primed as standard kit in higher-end variants, others as a cost-option accessory. Nation carmakers Proton and Perodua, as well as leading Japanese marques like Toyota, are amongst those.

Meanwhile with regards to urban public transportation, Loke stated that roughly RM200 million has been budgeted to support My50 monthly transit pass users and other discounts, as reported by The Star. While around 200,000 people have embraced the My50 pass, this figure is still low in comparison to the number of vehicles on the roads in the Klang Valley.

Loke however expressed optimism that the people would adopt improved driving habits and be watchful in order to lessen road accident chances.