KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — There are no plans to make the installation of dashcams mandatory, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said although the ministry had received several suggestions, it must consider aspects such as costs for the people if dashcams are made mandatory.
“However, we encourage the installation of dashcams, especially in vehicles, from the manufacturers.
“If they (vehicle manufacturers) can install them (dashcams) in their new cars, we will strongly encourage it, but so far we have not made it mandatory,” he told the media after an engagement session with editors here today.
Also present at the media session were Transport Ministry deputy secretary-general (policy) Datuk Normah Osman, Road Transport Department deputy director-general (planning and operations) Aedy Fadly Ramli, Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj and Bernama news service executive editor Mohd Haikal Isa.
Loke encouraged bus operators to install dashcams so recordings can be used as evidence after road crashes.
He said 2023 statistics showed there were 600,000 road crashes, with over 6,500 deaths.
“If we look at statistics, the rate is 15 to 17 deaths per day. This is a big number,” he also said.
“For every person who dies, it is for us (ministry) a tragedy that does not need to happen because road crashes can be avoided if every driver takes a cautious attitude and obeys road rules,” he said.
Loke expressed hope that the public can adopt better driving habits and reduce road crashes.
— Bernama
