Catching speed fiends more important than public security? — Tay Tian Yan

JULY 23 — All motorists should take note that the Automated Enforcement System (AES) is scheduled to be launched in mid-August and the traffic rules will be fully improved by then.

Everyone is asking: is the AES really so powerful?

The answer is undoubtedly yes. A total of 1,300 fixed and portable high-definition cameras will be used to monitor traffic day and night in “black spots” located along highways as well as state and federal roads nationwide. Any road rule violations, including running the red light and speeding, will be captured by the cameras and summonses will be sent.

Do not leave things to chance. They are not lousy cameras snapping blurred images to leave room for offenders to argue.

The AES uses cameras with 11 megapixels that simultaneously capture photos and shoot videos. Even if you speed up to 250km/h, regardless of during the day or at midnight, you will still be captured clearly and indisputably.

Even if a fake car plate number is used, the AES will still capture the driver’s face clearly, unless if he or she wears a mask.

Do not expect the police to be lacking in their ability to handle the large amount of data. The system will automatically issue summonses within a week, and a copy will also be sent to the courts.

After all, the government has invested over RM300 million in the system and it relies on a large number of summonses to recover the cost. As long as drivers continue to speed and beat the red traffic light, the cost can be recovered very soon and it will then become a profit-making tool.

It will put an end to the cat-and-mouse game on roads. The BMWs and the Kancils will have to move at the same speed. Everyone must follow the rules or prepare a huge amount of money to pay summonses. Of course, the occasional driving pleasure, including non-hazardous and necessary rule violations, must also come to an end.

For sure, I strongly support safe driving and advocate strict enforcement. However, I also wonder whether it is the government’s wisest investment to invest RM300 million in curbing traffic rule violations.

Two weeks ago, a snatch theft victim died and the CCTV at the scene caught the whole process, including a few passers-by actually walking away without trying to help the elderly woman.

Last week, a woman’s handbag was snatched at a shopping mall car park in Petaling Jaya, and the incident was as well captured by the CCTV.

However, the video clips were unable to help in investigation and detection as the images were too blur to identify the snatch thieves.

Many criminal cases in public places were also not recorded by any CCTVs and thus, suspects were able to escape.

Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan have installed the best cameras in public places so that criminal cases can be captured to help in solving them. Malaysia, however, installed the most advanced cameras on highways and roads to capture traffic rule violations.

I mean, road safety is indeed important. However, combating crimes and improving law and order should be more important.

Of course, if the government thinks that issuing summonses should be prioritised instead of improving public security, then I would have nothing more to say. — mysinchew.com