Police to Develop Profiling System for Commercial Vehicle Drivers and Companies

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) will develop a profiling system involving drivers, companies and commercial vehicles to strengthen efforts in combating cases of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

JSPT Bukit Aman Director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said the initiative is currently being refined as part of proposals to tighten enforcement, including ensuring that companies employing the drivers involved are also held accountable for offences committed.

“We are in the process of developing a profiling system for individuals, companies and vehicles, and are cooperating with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), in addition to submitting proposals to the government to tighten laws so that not only drivers are subject to action, but also the companies that appoint them are held responsible,” he said at a press conference at Bukit Aman here today.

Muhammed Hasbullah said the step was taken following the increasing trend of commercial vehicle drivers detected driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, thus posing a high risk to road user safety.

According to him, currently legal action under the Road Transport Act 1987 is taken against individuals who commit offences, but his department is also proposing that employers or companies also be held accountable.

Muhammed Hasbullah also advised owners of transport or commercial vehicle companies to carry out periodic monitoring of drivers, including urine screening tests, to ensure their workers are not involved in drug abuse.

Meanwhile, Muhammed Hasbullah said a total of 121 lorry drivers were among 135 individuals detained after testing positive for drugs in 44 integrated operations against commercial vehicle drivers on the North-South Expressway and East Coast Expressway, from April to June last year.

He said the number was detected from 713 urine screening tests conducted throughout the operation period, with 135 individuals detained.

“Nearly 90 percent of the individuals detained involved commercial vehicle drivers, namely 121 lorry drivers and 14 other individuals,” he said.

According to him, methamphetamine was the most commonly detected drug among lorry drivers through the operations, and based on current trends, some drivers are believed to take the prohibited substance to enhance their ability to drive over long periods.

He said the operations, conducted by JSPT in collaboration with the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) and the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), focused on trailer, lorry, express bus, factory bus, school bus drivers as well as vehicles carrying hazardous materials.

Bernama