10 Ways To Get Yourself In Trouble Driving In Malaysia
1) Driving Without A Driving License.
Have you committed an offense? Yes, you have.
Section 26 (2) of the Road Transport Act 1987 clearly reiterates, “a person should have a valid driving license”, if he or she wishes to drive.
2) Ignorance is not bliss.
Being a new driver, say a “P” driver, you are unfamiliar with the area and you inadvertently entered a “no entry” road. You are stopped by a traffic cop.
You begin pleading with the officer. Your attempts to convince the officer of your ignorance failed.
Can the officer summon you?
Unless the cop is willing to excuse you, you are in for trouble. The law is, “ignorance is no excuse”.
3) Driving with no number plate at the rear.
Does it represent an offense should you drive with no number plate at the rear? Assuming your car number plate is about to drop off. You then place it in your booth.
Can you drive your car into town? The answer is “No”!
Such action by drivers, tantamount to an offense. Unless the good officer is in his good mood, you can expect to be slapped with a summons. So, you are advised to refrain from driving should you be faced with such a predicament.
Call a taxi, it is cheaper than getting fined.
4) Driving without seat belt on.
Many drivers drive off without a seat belt on. Many traveling a short distance, they then attempt to put their seat belt on. This is not only wrong, but dangerous as well.
If while you are attempting to wear your seat belt, you are seen by a traffic police, can he summon you? Indeed, he could!
At the moment the officer saw you and you weren’t wearing a seat belt, prepared to be pulled over and issued a summons.
It’s no use arguing your way out. Section 119 (2) of the Road Transport Act 1987 again reiterates it is an offense. A RM300 fine awaits you.
So, wear your seat belt first before driving off. Ensure this good driving is enshrined in you as one of your good habits of driving.
5) Crossing a traffic light when the lights turn yellow.
The above has always remained a contention with many drivers. Right or wrong? Those well versed with the law tend to argue it is right. They claim “follow through”.
Though a driver could possibly claim the above, but remember, you will have to be summoned first and later appear in court to fight you case. Personally, I think it is going to be a hassle.
The authorities nowadays have officers riding in big Perdana official cars stationed at traffic lights. If you are unlucky, you may have one of these cars tail you while you are crossing during yellow lights.
A friend of mine got a summons issued by the J.P.J. just recently. My advice is, slow down when seeing yellow lights. Avoid getting a summons. That’s the best advice which can be given to you.
6) No tail lights or number plate light.
Many drivers are not aware that a car without tail light is an offense. The tail lights are intended to light up the number plates of a vehicle. It is an offense of these lights are not working.
So, please check this light from time to time to avoid being booked as an offense.
7) Driving at night with a cabin or interior light on.
Many are not aware, it is an offense to drive vehicle with its cabin light on. With the cabin light on, it will distort the vision of on-coming drivers. This could lead to accidents happening.
So, do try not to put on the cabin light while you are driving as this may lead to accidents.
8) Not giving way to ambulance, police, J.P.J., customs and fire brigade.
Failing to give way to the authorities is considered an offense. Although the offense carries with it a RM300 fine, at the end of the day, drivers are taught that they should give priorities and right of way to public service vehicles which are out to save lives during emergencies.
9) Driving with tyres without treads.
To drive with tyres that are bare or without treads is considered as an offense. A driver who fails to look after his vehicle tyres has violated Section 119 (2) of the Road Transport Act 1987. Committing this offense will get you a RM150 summons.
10) Driving with license that is suspended or banned.
Can a person drive if his or her license is suspended or banned? The answer is “No”!
To drive with a suspended or banned license is an offense. This is violation of the Section 38 (2) of the Road Transport Act 1987. It is a RM2000 fine plus a 6 months imprisonment.
So drivers beware, do not attempt to drive while under suspension or with a driving license that is banned.
Most drivers are unaware that these 10 simple driving offenses are committed by many drivers. Be wary of it so as to avoid being summoned unnecessarily by the authorities.
Very informative,your guidelines will help me specially if I visit your place so that I will not be caught by the policemen.I think you need to become more strict to lessen vehicles accident.
Your comments are most appreciated. If you should visit Malaysia, all Malaysian would warmly welcome you!
10 Ways To Get Yourself In Trouble Driving In Malaysia. The 10 points are very useful. It is always better to follow to avoid troubles not only in Malaysia but also in any country.
Your comment is extremely logical. We hope other readers will follow suit.
cikgu yap,
I feel that driving in malaysia scary and frightened..i’m just a begginer ‘p’ driver within a month..but few days ago, i was too slow to turn left to the road..and so there is other cumin near to me..the car horn me as usual..after, i go straight way to my road, but suddenly i duno why a malay guy on a motorcycle suddenly knock my car mirror hardly with his hand..and i just quiet and do nothing..after dat he went away..this incident frighten me..i really cnt understand y cnt they forgive us in our wrong or lousy driving skill? Y they wanted to fight with me bcoz of this small matter? My car stick with a large ‘P’ sticker..y cant they understand juniour driving standard..aix, this incident really hurt me..is really Satu rakyat, satu malaysia works in our country? *speechles* i hope that i will not fobia in driving after this…moody day..T.T
From: Smile
You have to take hold of yourself over this unfortunate incident. Do not let it affect you. Try to drive slowly and carefully.
hi smile,
I believe practice makes perfect. I have learned driving for 8 hours already (changed teacher as well) and my new teacher told me that I should practice more then should be no problem. So I think you should be no problem, tell yourself every time before driving:”I’m a good driver, I can drive well and safely.” Don’t let the incident stop you to drive, you can overcome it. The more you afraid, the more you should drive.
Just do what Cikgu Yap said :drive slowly and carefully.
Thank you coming to the aid of “smile”. Your advices are most encouraging!
Cikgu Yap,
One of my friend’s cousin is an ambulance driver. He stated that unlike fire brigade or police, ambulance has no privilige of crossing when lights turned red. As such, drivers in front of ambulance could not cross the traffic lights to give way. Please advise.
In fact, drivers blocking the way of an ambulance can ignore red traffic lights to allow ambulances to proceed.
In that case, consider fire truck or police car behind a vehicle that stops due to red light. Should the driver cross it to give way?
Only if both the vehicles mentioned are in an emergency situation. Whether you choose to beat the traffic light or not depends solely on you.
Sir, At the outset i would like to appreciate ur good work! good, keep going.
Now, i have the following queries kindly reply.
1) How to drive on a steep road (up hill) without the car getting stalled as well as make short turns while on up hill?
2) When the traffic is very slow on steep road (up hill) and all other vehicles move very slowly how to move forward without car moving backward & engine not getting stalled?
Kindly reply the above queries so as to enable me to clarify the same to my spouse (i tried my best but still the doubts lurkes her mind!) Hence a professional help is solicited. Kindly do reply in step by step approach plz…
Regards,
Thanks for your comments. Going up a steep slope – to do this successfully, the driver should have good control of the clutch mechanism. First, pull up the handbrake. Put the car in Gear 1, accelerate til the rev meter is at 2000 rpm. Leave clutch til the car jerk slightly. Step on the accelerator a little bit more. Finally, release the hand brake.
Going up a slope, following behind other vehicles – enter Gear 1, step on accelerator slightly and control brake well. Do not follow behind other cars too close.
I’d install the after market LED tail light on my car. But I find out that the signal turn light is a bit RED in colour not amber colour.
Is illegal? Will i get summons for that?
Thank You.
Indicators ideally should be amber. In my opinion, the authorities are not too particular of your red signal lights.