PETALING JAYA: Installing dashcams will not only reveal an accurate perspective of accidents but also protects heavy vehicle drivers if their vehicles are falsely accused of causing an accident, says a heavy vehicle group.
Malaysia Trucking Federation president Datuk Ng Koong Sinn encouraged heavy vehicle operators to install dashcams as a precaution.
“Whenever accidents happen, heavy vehicles are always blamed but with a dashcam, the footage will tell the whole story and we can identify who the real culprit is.
“It also protects the drivers if they are accused of anything,” he said.
Aside from encouraging heavy vehicle operators to install dashcams, Ng also proposed for dashcams pointing towards the interior of the vehicle to monitor the driver.
When asked if dashcam use should be made mandatory for heavy vehicles, Ng said they will adhere to any direction by the government.
Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Datuk Ashfar Ali said member buses which are headed for highland destinations are already fitted with dashcams, noting that this is a compulsory requirement.
This refers to trips to destinations such as Cameron Highlands or Genting Highlands and other hilly terrains, he explained.
As for other express buses, Ashfar said the newer ones are fitted while older models do not have it.
“The recordings are uploaded into a hard disk where operators monitor the drivers' behaviour,” he said.
Ashfar also proposed that the authorities relook the strength of barriers on highways between opposite lanes to withstand the impact of a heavy vehicle as an extra safety measure.
“We need to take another look at this for the benefit of passengers and other road users,” he said, adding that there are cement barriers on certain stretches but were absent in others.
Separately, he called on the government to look into increasing fares for economy express buses, noting that they were unchanged since 2018.
“Even a slight increase will go a long way. We always place passenger safety and comfort as our top priority, and any fare increase will aid in our efforts to update our safety standards and improve services,” he said.
Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Lorry Operators Association secretary-general Alvin Choong meanwhile urged that dashcams be made compulsory for heavy vehicles.
“The driver will be made aware that he is being monitored,” he said.
Choong said the dashcam cost should not be used an excuse as the devices are relatively cheap.
“Compulsory GPS installation costs even more,” he said, noting that this requirement is already stipulated by the Land Public Transport Agency.
