Earlier this week, it was reported that the next round of amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) will include a law that motorists who cause accidents while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be made to compensate their victims. This is expected to be tabled in parliament next year.
To ensure that the mandatory compensation actually comes through, the government says it is formulating a mechanism to seize assets of – and impose additional jail terms on – drunk or drug-impaired drivers who fail to pay compensation to road crash victims or the families of those killed, the New Straits Times reports.
According to transport minister Anthony Loke, such a move would ensure compensation orders under amendments to the act provide meaningful recourse, particularly when offenders claim they cannot afford to pay.
