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Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Structural reset needed to end crashes plaguing bus industry, says expert
Wan Agyl Wan Hassan says the frequency of bus crashes demands more than just a short-term fix. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Malaysia's bus industry is in urgent need of structural reform to curb the number of fatal crashes plaguing the sector, according to transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. Earlier this week, Utusan Malaysia reported that more than 203 bus-related accidents were recorded in the country between January 2023 and May this year, resulting in 39 deaths, 68 serious injuries, and 197 minor injuries. Wan Agyl, founder of transport think tank My Mobility Vision, said those statistics showed the country's road safety record was a 'national failure'. 'It demands more than a short-term fix,' he added. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. He said the accidents, though varied in their specific causes, were ultimately the result of a transport system under severe stress from cost and manpower pressures, as well as regulatory blind spots. 'On one hand, there's growing demand; more people travelling, more school trips, more factory charters. 'On the other hand, there's a severe shortage of trained and full-time drivers, and margins so thin that operators are forced to take risks just to keep their businesses alive,' he told FMT. Police have attributed the crashes to speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, mechanical failures, and pressure exerted on drivers by bus operators. Yusri said driver error was the main factor behind these accidents, adding that many of them were fatigued from driving for too long without rest, while others had little experience operating buses or were under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Wan Agyl called for a nationwide employment framework for drivers that ensured fair pay, regulated hours and career stability. He said bus drivers are typically hired on 'loose' contracts rather than given permanent employment—unlike countries like Japan where commercial bus drivers are medically screened, trained and employed under a national system. 'In Singapore, the Land Transport Authority contracts bus services based on performance, not just price, ensuring safety standards are part of the business model. 'Even in Dubai, companies like Dubai Taxi Corporation run structured driver employment systems with safety and service built into their operations. Malaysia can do this, but we haven't,' he said. Wan Agyl said a structural reset would involve digitising compliance so that all commercial buses have real-time GPS devices that record speed and distance. To qualify for operating permits, bus companies should also be required to maintain detailed maintenance logs, he added. 'It means auditing and grading bus operators based on safety performance and disqualifying low-grade firms from winning government or tourism contracts. 'And it means finally enacting laws that hold company directors and operators liable — not just the man at the wheel—when systemic negligence leads to harm,' he said. Wan Agyl called for the formation of a national bus safety task force under the transport ministry, with representation from the road transport department, Land Public Transport Agency, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, and industry players. 'There is no reason for transport safety to be fragmented when lives are at stake,' he said.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Digital driving licence arrive soon: Will physical ID still be valid?
Forgetting your driving licence will soon be a thing of the past. Digital smartphone driving licences are on course to arrive later this year, This is Money can confirm. The major update is part of a new ' Wallet and App' that will prove your right to drive, your age, and access key government documents - but don't panic if you want to stick with plastic because physical IDs will still be valid. The digitalisation reforms aim to 'improve ways for people to interact with the Government digitally' and help a push towards efficiency savings targets of £45billion. Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said: 'This is a game changer for the millions of people who use their driving licence as ID.' So, we've rounded up everything you need to know about getting a digital driving licence, including the pros and cons. When are digital driving licences coming? Is it compulsory to get one? A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) spokesman confirmed to This is Money that a digital driving licence will arrive later this year. 'The Wallet will be launched this summer with the first credential being a digital Veteran card. 'Later in the year, we plan to begin rolling out a digital driving licence, which will eventually be usable for everything your paper licence is currently used for. 'We're working closely with DVLA and industry to meet this timeline.' DSIT also confirmed to us that digital driving licences won't be compulsory. 'There are no plans to make the Wallet, or digitised documents mandatory, and physical documents will remain an option for those who prefer them,' the spokesperson clarified. What is a digital driving licence? And how does it work? A digital driving licence is a free (no need to pay) electronic version of your driving licence that is accessible via an app on your smartphone. It's accessed through the Government's online ( Wallet app and will be compatible with both and Android. Essentially, it's similar to the new digital railcards. You'll be able to check renewals, your driving record and endorsements on the app too. The app will use two-factor security checks already built into modern smartphones like facial recognition to make sure documents are secure and are only accessed by the right person. The app will also remember users' activity so you'll have a more convenient and personalised experience, and in future there will also be an AI-powered chatbot - ' Chat' to help with services and payments. What are the benefits of digital driving licences? An estimated 50million Britons hold a full or provisional driving licence, so moving to a digital form comes with pros for some and cons for others. Research by Quotezone recently found Britons are divided over the introduction of digital driving licences: 49 per cent of respondents welcome the change, but 47 per cent are against it. There are some obvious benefits, with the first one being the fact you don't have to carry around a physical ID. As banking, health services, and many other daily services are already on your phone it's a handy natural step to have your driving licence on your phone too and not in a physical wallet. Even if you lost your phone you can't lose your app login and digital driving licence on the app. A smartphone app is also easy to access, and will store all your driving licence details and documents in one place and under one login. It also comes with enhanced security and two-factor authentication. You'll be able to immediately cancel documents if you realise they've been stolen. What are the concerns with digital driving licences? Although there are many benefits, big changes like this come with considerations. There's a concern it's another step towards a digital society that's leaving older generations behind, in a similar way to how cashless parking is. Car finance provider CarMoney is particularly worried that those without regular access to smartphones or the confidence to use them might struggle. Older drivers and people living in rural areas with patchy mobile coverage are likely to face the biggest hurdles. However, plastic driving licences will still be valid. Quotezone found 87 per cent of respondents prefer physical driving licences. There's potential for access issues too, and there's of course a reliance on your phone being charged. If you run out of charge at a critical moment you won't be able to show your ID. This could lead to similar problems as to when your phone runs out of charge and you can't show your digital train ticket. Many people will also be concerned around security and data sharing through a personal platform, and that people's activity could be monitored. Why is the new Wallet useful for drivers? While many parts of the Wallet and digitalisation of documents is helpful, for motorists the digital driving licence part of the app is particularly useful. Because you'll be able to build a personalised dashboard for all services related to your car. For instance on your dashboard you'll be able to apply for road tax, look at MOT information or view your driving records – it's a hub for car ownership too. When was the last time there was a change to driving licences? The last time there was a major change to driving licences was 27 years ago. In 1998 the DVLA replaced the old-style paper licence with today's plastic photocard and a paper counterpart. Then in 2015 the paper part was stopped, mainly to make sure that there wasn't a reliance on out-of-date pieces of paper during essential checks. What other digital documents are arriving? The Veteran Card – proof that a person has served in the armed forces - will be the first digital document to be issued, followed by the digital driving licence. However, Science Secretary Peter Kyle has set out plans for the Wallet to also include DBS checks and every other credential issued by the government by the end of 2027. Again, these are only 'for those who choose to use them', and traditional physical documents will remain available for those who wish to continue to use them. When do you have to apply for a digital driving licence? And how? There'll be an announcement when the Wallet is launched this summer. Then when digital driving licences arrive later this year you'll need to download the Wallet App from Apple or Google Play App stores – but make sure you only use the official ones. You'll then need to verify your identity, upload relevant documents and complete facial recognition. Once your application has been processed you'll be able to access your digital driving licence on your smartphone and use the other services. A new study found that only 43% of motorists realised that a move to digital documentation is coming, and soon Do people know digital driving licences are coming? This is Money will cover the move closer to the time too, but the recent announcements by the government seem to have gone unnoticed by a lot of drivers. A a survey of 1,000 motorists released last month by Regtransfers revealed that just 43 per cent of drivers with a full or provisional licence are aware of the move to digital documentation. The EU is also working on digital driving licences which will help raise awareness. But if 50 million drivers seems like a lot for the UK government to deal with, the EU is working to digitalise the licences of a whopping 440 million drivers - almost 10 times the amount!
