THE Road Transport Department (RTD) has issued 24,708 summonses to errant motorists since January 25 – within six days of the Ops TBC 2022 kick-off held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.

RTD director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim said a total of 67,265 vehicles were inspected during the period and summonses were issued for offences including driving without a valid licence, possessing expired road tax, not wearing a seat belt, running a traffic light, overloading, and using a mobile phone while driving.

He said more than 2,200 personnel from various agencies, namely, the RTD, police, National Anti-Drug Agency, Immigration Department and highway concessionaire PLUS Sdn Bhd, are involved in the integrated operation.

The operation involved patrols, inspecting buses at terminals and depots, officials disguising themselves as bus passengers, video recordings using dash cams, mobile weighing scales, Smart Enforcement Devices, and other related assets,” he told reporters after the operation at the Lembah Sireh Bus Terminal in Kota Bharu last night.

Zailani said the operation is focused on bus inspections at depots and public terminals, aiming to reduce the number of vehicles that do not meet the benchmark of roadworthiness and to ensure they are drug free.

In last night’s operation, he said, four bus drivers tested positive for drugs and further action will be taken by relevant authorities.

He advised road users to comply with traffic rules and regulations and take appropriate self-control measures to lower the rate of accidents and deaths on the road.

“Based on the trend during previous festivals, no fewer than 200 accidents involving public and private vehicles have been reported daily,” he added.

He said RTD has identified 10 accident hotspots in Kelantan. – Bernama, February 1, 2022.