KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — Cases of reckless and dangerous driving have increased by nearly 50 per cent in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year, said Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali.
He said this reflects a worrying trend of aggressive driving, which could lead to bullying or road rage.
Hasbullah said 1,278 investigation papers were opened from January 1 to June 28 this year compared with 852 cases in the same period last year.
Johor had the highest number of cases so far this year with 354, followed by Kuala Lumpur (230), Selangor (200), Negeri Sembilan (119), Kelantan (84), Perak (60), Terengganu (49), Sarawak (44), Melaka (37), Kedah (33), Penang (27), Pahang (24), Sabah (15), and Perlis (2).
Compared with the same period last year, Johor recorded the highest increase of 175 cases, followed by Selangor (117), Kuala Lumpur (74), Negeri Sembilan (56), Terengganu (26), Perak (20), Sarawak (11), Kedah (8) and Pahang (3), while Kelantan was unchanged. Penang, Sabah, Perlis and Melaka recorded declines.
“The main causes of road bullying include non-compliance with traffic rules and signals, aggressive driving such as dangerous overtaking, changing lanes, tailgating, and refusal to give way,” he told Bernama recently.
Other factors include provocation between road users like excessive honking, hand gestures or verbal disputes, as well as impatience and a lack of courtesy.
Responding to claims on social media that some drivers use vape laced with drugs while driving, he said PDRM has seen a trend involving vape products mixed with psychoactive substances or synthetic drugs.
He said enforcement is being strengthened, including with proposals to employ saliva and urine screening for commercial vehicle drivers involved in road crashes to detect drug influence.
Hasbullah also said PDRM acts firmly against road rage incidents, where offenders may be arrested and charged if the case involves threats, fights, property damage or injury.
He said reckless and dangerous driving under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987 carries a penalty of up to five years’ jail and a fine of RM5,000 to RM15,000, upon conviction.
He added that existing laws are sufficient to address road rage, with additional action also taken under the Penal Code depending on the offence.
These include Section 323 (causing hurt), Sections 324 or 326 (causing hurt using weapons or dangerous means), Section 341 (wrongful restraint), Section 427 (mischief or property damage), and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Penal Code.
On viral road rage videos, he said swift police action is important to show all complaints are taken seriously and to strengthen public confidence in enforcement.
However, he said viral videos are only preliminary information, and each case is investigated professionally using CCTV footage, dashcam recordings, witness statements and digital forensic evidence before action is taken.
Hasbullah stressed that swift and consistent enforcement is a deterrent, while the public is encouraged to cooperate by submitting dashcam or CCTV footage when witnessing offences.
Bernama previously reported that aggressive driving has increasingly drawn public attention, with incidents frequently going viral on social media, prompting calls for stronger enforcement and awareness efforts.
