By Shahrim Tamrin
(Road Safety Advocate and Sustainable Transport Advocate; former Board Member of MIROS)
Malaysia’s move to increase traffic compounds could mark a significant step towards improving road discipline, but the effectiveness of the policy will depend on one critical factor: whether enforcement becomes more certain and consistent.
The proposed increase in traffic fines may appear to send a strong message against reckless driving. However, without stronger enforcement mechanisms, higher penalties risk becoming another addition to the growing pile of unpaid summonses rather than a genuine deterrent.
The central question facing policymakers is simple: if motorists have ignored multiple outstanding summonses over the years, why would a higher fine suddenly change their behaviour?
A driver who has accumulated 10 unpaid summonses worth RM300 each may not necessarily respond differently when the next offence carries a RM500 penalty. From an enforcement perspective, an unpaid fine — regardless of its value — has little impact if there is no certainty that consequences will follow.
Road safety research globally has repeatedly shown that the likelihood of being caught is often a stronger behavioural deterrent than the size of the punishment itself.
Studies from various countries have found that increasing fines alone does not always lead to safer driving behaviour, particularly among repeat offenders. Effective enforcement systems focus not only on penalties, but on ensuring that violations are detected and consequences are applied.
The enforcement gap
Malaysia’s own experience highlights the challenge.
Over the years, periodic traffic fine discount campaigns have become a familiar feature of enforcement efforts. While such initiatives may help recover outstanding payments, they have also created an unintended perception that delaying payment may eventually lead to a cheaper settlement.
With billions of ringgit in unpaid summonses accumulated over decades, critics argue that the current approach has not sufficiently encouraged compliance.
When enforcement shifts from changing behaviour to simply recovering outstanding payments, the system risks losing its deterrence effect.
The concern is that habitual offenders may continue driving without addressing their underlying violations, creating a cycle where fines accumulate but behaviour remains unchanged.
The rise of “ghost drivers”
A further risk is that higher fines could push some chronic offenders further outside the formal system.
When accumulated penalties become financially overwhelming, some motorists may avoid renewing licences, road tax or insurance — creating a population of drivers who are effectively invisible to regulators.
These “ghost drivers” pose a broader public safety concern because they operate on roads without proper accountability or protection.
The issue is not simply about collecting fines. It is about ensuring that dangerous drivers are identified and prevented from continuing risky behaviour.
Lessons from other countries
Several countries have strengthened road safety by focusing on enforcement certainty rather than punishment severity.
The United Kingdom, for example, uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to identify vehicles linked to offences such as unpaid penalties, expired road tax or insurance violations.
Australia has introduced stronger measures against repeat offenders, including vehicle impoundment for serious traffic violations.
Some jurisdictions have also adopted income-based fine systems to ensure penalties remain meaningful across different income groups.
The common principle is clear: traffic laws work best when violations carry predictable consequences.
Five steps to make higher fines effective
If Malaysia is to proceed with higher compounds, several supporting measures could strengthen its impact.
1. Expand ANPR-based enforcement
Equipping enforcement vehicles with real-time number plate recognition technology would allow authorities to identify offenders continuously rather than relying mainly on periodic roadblocks.
2. Target vehicles, not only drivers
For repeat offenders, vehicle impoundment could provide a stronger deterrent. The possibility of losing access to a vehicle may create pressure from families, employers and vehicle owners to ensure responsible use.
3. Link insurance premiums to driving records
A driver with multiple offences should face higher insurance costs. Connecting driving behaviour with insurance pricing would create a financial incentive for safer conduct.
4. Strengthen recovery mechanisms
Unpaid traffic compounds should have clearer consequences, including structured recovery mechanisms after a defined period.
5. Develop a centralised commercial driver database
Heavy vehicle drivers are involved in some of Malaysia’s most serious crashes. A nationwide system tracking commercial driver records would help companies identify high-risk drivers and improve accountability.
A two-year opportunity for reform
The government’s proposed transition period before implementing higher compound rates should not be viewed merely as additional time before penalties increase.
It should be used to build a stronger enforcement ecosystem.
Malaysia’s road safety challenge is not caused by a lack of ideas. The country has introduced campaigns, awareness programmes and stricter penalties before.
The challenge has been ensuring that rules are consistently enforced.
A cycle of announcing tougher penalties, conducting temporary operations, offering discounts and then seeing violations rise again cannot deliver lasting improvement.
Road safety is not achieved when penalties appear severe on paper.
It is achieved when motorists believe that breaking the law will result in certain, immediate and unavoidable consequences.
Without that certainty, Malaysia risks ending up with the same problem it has today — not safer roads, but a larger mountain of unpaid summonses.
