KUALA LUMPUR: The government will review whether tougher penalties should be imposed for hit-and-run offences, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said hit-and-run incidents were a concern and the government was encouraging motorists to install dashcams to help provide evidence in road accidents.
"Although dashcam installation is not mandatory, their growing use has helped establish the circumstances surrounding accidents, including hit-and-run cases and assist police investigations.
"In terms of tightening the law, we will review the policy to determine whether tougher penalties should be imposed for hit-and-run offences," he said in response to Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (Bersatu-Putrajaya) in the Dewan Rakyat.
Radzi had asked about hit-and-run cases, particularly in areas where there were no bystanders to help victims or alert emergency services.
He also asked what measures the government would take to send a clear message that fleeing an accident scene was a serious offence.
Meanwhile, Loke said motorcycle riders and pillion passengers accounted for nearly two-thirds of road fatalities last year.
They made up 4,452 of the 6,581 road fatalities recorded in the police's Road Accident Statistics Report 2025.
In response, the ministry was focusing on key risk factors contributing to fatal accidents, particularly speeding, overloaded commercial vehicles, motorcycle safety and accident hotspots.
Loke said the ministry was expanding the use of the Automated Awareness Safety System, alongside Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology, to tackle speeding.
"This will enable enforcement to be carried out more consistently through technology. Locations for new installations are also assessed based on accident data and the level of risk at each location.
"The implementation of speed-limiting devices (SLDs) for commercial vehicles is being carried out in phases to ensure they are not driven above the prescribed speed limits," he said in response to Pang Hok Liong (PH-Labis).
He added that the ministry had introduced telematics in phases, initially on a voluntary basis involving five service providers, to detect risky driving behaviour such as speeding, sudden braking and aggressive driving.
High-Speed Weigh-In-Motion (HS-WIM) technology was also being used to detect overloaded commercial vehicles without requiring them to stop at enforcement stations.
"For motorcyclists, who account for about two-thirds of road fatalities, measures include rider education and formal training, vehicle safety technology and infrastructure improvements at high-risk locations."
Loke said police accident data helped identify high-risk locations, or black spots, while accident research and reconstruction by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) helped identify factors contributing to fatalities and serious injuries.
"These findings guide targeted interventions, including road design improvements, speed controls, traffic segregation and enforcement measures tailored to the risks at each location," he said.
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