By YS Chan
The Road Transport Department (RTD) appears to be overzealous in stamping out unlicensed motorcycle taxi services. But tough action against low-income service providers and customers leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
On Feb 14, the RTD issued summonses to three Dego Ride motorcyclists for providing unauthorised motorcycle taxi services. They will be charged in court under Section 23 (2) of the Road Transport Act and may be fined up to RM10,000, or face two years’ imprisonment, or both, if found guilty.
The department also warned Dego Ride operators, numbering over 6,000, that their motorcycles would be seized if they continued operating.
It is not known whether the RTD seized any private cars used for ride-hailing services since Uber, launched in early 2014, was also in clear violation of the Road Transport Act until amendments to existing laws are passed at the next Parliament sitting.
Instead of concentrating on Dego Ride, which is used by many to commute to and from train stations where public transport is lacking or non-existent, the department should tackle the menace posed by tow truck drivers, which has plagued motorists for decades.
Many of them work hand in glove with “call men” that cruise along highways scouting for accidents. Their vehicles are fitted with extra-long antenna used for CB radio to summon tow trucks.
This explains why tow trucks often arrive at the scene of an accident way before the police, ambulance or fire and rescue personnel show up.
A recent accident along the Damansara-Puchong Expressway saw two rival groups of “call men” competing for towing services.
The brawl turned bloody when another group showed up with parangs. Four men were slashed and are being treated at Serdang Hospital.
The menace posed by shady tow truck operators is the elephant in the room, but lack of political will has allowed them a free rein.
In the mid-1980s, I drove down a lane from the road towards Subang Airport to check out where it would lead, but was shocked to bump into a gathering of tow trucks and police patrol cars.
It then dawned on me that tow truck drivers operated with some understanding or agreement with certain police personnel. Some may have become emboldened, thinking they can get away with their transgressions by buying their way out.
In recent years, I had to make two reports at the Jalan Bandar Traffic Police Station in Kuala Lumpur, after other cars crashed into mine.
On both occasions, I was approached by agents representing car repair workshops at the parking area for accident cars, but none dared go near the gate of the police station.
The officers at this police station ought to be congratulated as there was no hanky-panky and everything was conducted properly and efficiently. I have no clue about the situation at other police stations.
RTD should be the regulating agency for tow trucks as their permits, together with those of small goods vehicles classified under de-controlled vehicles, are issued by the department.
During the last Chinese New Year holidays, RTD deployed more than 1,400 officers nationwide in a massive exercise to reduce injuries and fatalities caused by road accidents.
Now that the festive season is long over, reining in unscrupulous tow truck drivers would earn the praise of everyone, including honest tow truck drivers who are treated with scorn and suspicion by the public because of rotten apples in their midst.
Once the RTD has succeeded, it should take on the “tontos”, as one in 10 lorries plying the roads in the country are under their protection.
The department should not close an eye on overloaded lorries damaging our roads and posing a great danger to others, not to mention over 1.2 million motorcyclists riding without licences or crash helmets.
YS Chan is an FMT reader.
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