The Malaysian government allocates nearly RM15.5 million each year to operate and maintain the Automated Awareness Safety System (AwAS), according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke. The figure covers a wide range of expenses, including camera servicing, system upkeep, and the printing of summonses issued under the programme.

Data from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) suggests that the investment is paying off. Between 2014 and 2018, MIROS found that the presence of AwAS cameras increased the “Perception of Being Caught” (POBC) by as much as 99 per cent at enforcement locations. This high rate of compliance indicates that motorists are far more likely to obey traffic laws when they know cameras are actively monitoring.

The details were provided in a written parliamentary reply to Mohd Hasnizan Harun, the Member of Parliament for Hulu Selangor, who had asked for a breakdown of costs related to the Automated Enforcement System (AES), the forerunner to AwAS, as well as its effectiveness in reducing traffic offences.

AwAS, which replaced the AES in 2017, continues the original mission of curbing speeding and red-light running through automated monitoring. AES itself was introduced in 2012 as part of the government’s road safety push but was rebranded and updated to AwAS five years later.

While the impact is most pronounced at camera installation sites, MIROS’ research underscores that strategic placement and consistent enforcement can make a significant difference in driver behaviour, potentially leading to safer roads nationwide.