Asset seizures alone won’t cut road deaths, says expert

A road safety expert has warned that seizing the assets of traffic offenders won't alone reduce the number of road deaths. Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook has proposed this measure to compensate victims and their families, especially when offenders cannot pay. However, Universiti Putra Malaysia's Law Teik Hua said while asset seizures could have a financial deterrent effect, they wouldn't necessarily change driving behavior or lower road deaths.

He urged the government to prioritize enforcing offenses like drunk driving, speeding, and running red lights, as well as improving Kejara demerit points system. The expert emphasized that the government shouldn't rely solely on severe penalties. Instead, it should address the root causes of accidents through safer road design, tackling high-risk locations, and automated enforcement.

To prevent victims from waiting for compensation while assets are being sold, Law proposed an interim compensation fund, with the rest recovered through legal channels. Universiti Malaya criminologist Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid stressed that any seizure must have a clear legal basis and should not arbitrarily affect innocent family members.

She added that financial penalties alone wouldn't reduce traffic offenses without consistent law enforcement.