Prudent drivers may be rewarded with discounts on their vehicle insurance payments next year.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke told reporters today that the ministry will discuss the plan with the General Insurance Association of Malaysia soon.

He said the ministry wanted to use the reward approach to "start a new phase in Malaysia where its drivers are prudent and abide by the law".

This, Loke added, was besides the summons system where errant motorists are penalised for flouting traffic rules.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the Automated Enforcement System (AES) control centre in Kelana Jaya today, Loke said  the ministry was also studying the option of giving road tax discounts to disciplined drivers.

"We are continuing the demerit system that had been passed by Parliament during the previous administration, and we are also looking at improving it.

"Because we do not want the public to have the perception that the government only wants to punish them. Our aim is to educate, instead of only penalising people.

"That is why we plan to implement a system where good drivers will be rewarded as well, as we want to change the attitude of our road users into respecting traffic rules," he said during a press conference at the Automated Enforcement System (AES) traffic camera control centre in Kelana Jaya today.

Insurance discounts

Loke said the ministry was also looking at the option of giving discounts on road tax to good drivers.

However, he added, this option would need a thorough study before it can be implemented.

"(At the moment) it is quicker to do this through insurance NCD (no claim discount), where insurance companies give up to 55 percent discount to vehicle owners who have not made any insurance claims.

"We are going to sit down with the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) if discounts can also be given for motorists that do not have traffic offence records," he said, adding the association had also raised the idea during his recent meeting with them.

Loke said PIAM agreed that drivers who do not have traffic offence records are good road users who have low accident risks, and thus they should also be rewarded.

Meanwhile, when asked by reporters if the ministry has any projected revenue from AES operations, which has come under full control of the Road Transport Department starting this month, Loke said "no".

He said the Pakatan Harapan administration does not view traffic summonses as a source of revenue, and when it comes to summonses, they would "rather have none".

"We are not looking at traffic summonses from the revenue point of view. We would rather have no income from summonses as it means that no one flouts traffic rules anymore.

“What is the point of having high revenue when it means that the laws are being flouted by many, and there is a high number of traffic accidents?"