Wouldn’t we all love it if our licence renewal was every ten years instead of the current five years? Well, now you can. The general public can begin applying for 10-year licences on Monday (May 8th) at JPJ offices and counters, according to a statement made by transport minister Loke Siew Fook earlier this week.
Anyone who intended to renew their licences was eligible as long as they were fit to drive. The one rule is that once you are over 70, you will need a doctor’s note that testifies to your driving proficiency.
All road safety experts and organisations shared the underlying belief that a person’s right to drive should not be taken away unless they pose a danger to other drivers.
The extension of driver’s licence validity to ten years was not unique to Malaysia; countries such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia are also doing so.
Those who renew their licence for up to ten years will also receive a 10% discount on the charge. They would be charged the same RM30 per year price, but if they renew for ten years at once, the amount will be RM270.
The Issue
However, according to a road safety expert, when it comes to suspending reckless drivers, allowing driver’s licences to be valid for up to 10 years can be difficult. The road transport department (JPJ) was typically able to keep drivers who had committed major traffic infractions from renewing their licences.
With this new policy, JPJ will find it difficult to enforce the suspension if drivers can renew their licences for up to ten years. Drivers with a track record of safe driving, on the other hand, should be eligible for licence extensions.
Those wishing to renew their licences should not be blacklisted by the police, should not have any existing restrictions imposed by JPJ, and should not be suspended as a result of a conviction or court order.
It was suggested that electronic driver’s licences be used to simplify the renewal procedure and to link the driver to records of traffic offences and crashes.
