You’re in your car, driving back home from work, when you hear your mobile phone from your bag. You reach over, tearing your eyes off the road for a few seconds to root around your bag for your phone.
You find it and take it out, still alternating between looking at the road and at the screen, while you read a text a friend just sent.
This sounds like an everyday occurrence to most of us, right?
Well here’s some bad news for you—using, even holding, your handphone while at the wheel is a lawful offence.
Studies show that over 80% of traffic mishaps in Malaysia result from human error, and using mobile phones while at the wheel is one of the main causes of road accidents in the country.
This is why federal traffic investigation and enforcement department director SAC Datuk Mahamad Akhir Darus says that the police will be enforcing the ‘no handphone’ law now more than ever, and will be cracking down on careless motorists who might be putting their lives, and others’, in danger.
“Motorists caught holding a mobile phone while driving will be issued a summons. This includes using handphones while waiting at traffic lights or in traffic jams,” he told The Sun. This is to ensure complete focus on driving and no distractions, for even looking away from your windshield for a split-second could have a disastrous aftermath for drivers.
“Unlike criminal cases where the onus is on us to prove one’s guilt, this is a compound summons and it is up to the offenders to prove otherwise if they wish to dispute their case,” Mahamad stated.
Keep all this in mind next time you feel like taking selfies or answering a call on the road.
Feature Image Credit: Adapted from John Grainger/Source: The Daily Telegraph
