Incentives good but not a magic wand, say experts

PETALING JAYA: It takes more than monetary incentives such as discounts on motor insurance to make our roads safe, according to experts.

Academic Law Teik Hua and analyst Wan Agyl Wan Hassan pointed out that a combination of measures is essential to make drivers more cautious behind the wheel.

They said that while the incentive under the government’s Cermat Madani scheme is a welcome move, more has to be done to meaningfully improve road safety in Malaysia.

Law, of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s road safety research centre, said the scheme, as a form of behavioural incentive, is a good start.

“But typically, road safety performance tends to improve only when such incentives are supplemented with enforcement, infrastructure improvements, education and information technology,” he told FMT.

He said the government could complement the scheme with a risk-based licensing regime for repeat offenders, greater investment in road infrastructure, and wider use of road safety data to support enforcement and policymaking.

He added that insurers, automakers and fleet operators could also help improve road safety through driver education programmes and vehicle safety technologies.

The Cermat Madani initiative offers motorists with clean driving records an additional discount of up to 10% on insurance premiums when renewing through the MyJPJ app.

The rebate applies to motorists classified as “low-risk” based on driving records and traffic summons data and it comes on top of the existing no-claim discount (NCD) ceiling of up to 55%.

Ten insurance and takaful companies have signed up for the programme.

Wan Agyl, founder and senior adviser of transport think tank MY Mobility Vision, noted that the initiative rewards motorists for good behaviour rather than just penalising them for their transgressions.

He said lower insurance premiums provide motorists with a tangible incentive to drive safely. However, incentives alone would not solve Malaysia’s road safety challenges, he pointed out.

“Safer roads require a combination of behavioural incentives, consistent enforcement and better road systems,” he said.

He said the government should also strengthen automated enforcement, require speed limiters and GPS monitoring for commercial vehicles, improve motorcycle safety infrastructure and conduct regular road safety audits to identify dangerous locations before accidents occur.

Wan Agyl added that road safety campaigns should be conducted throughout the year rather than being limited to festive seasons.

On the role of motorists, he said road safety begins with everyday choices such as avoiding phone use while driving, obeying speed limits, wearing seat belts and helmets properly, and avoiding driving when fatigued.

“We need to move away from the mindset of arriving quickly and instead prioritise arriving safely.

“Getting home five minutes later is always better than not getting home at all,” he added.