MELAKA: Advocacy is key to addressing the issue of schoolchildren illegally driving cars and riding motorcycles, says the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

JPJ’s director-general Rospiagos Taha said the focus would now be shifted to educating schoolchildren and their parents on the importance of possessing a driving licence.

“From JPJ’s research, we discovered that many of these students are driving and riding without driving licences but our emphasis will be on organising targeted awareness campaigns and not issuing summonses for the initial period.

“I am optimistic to achieve a desired result on creating awareness (on the importance) of having driving licences with a systematic, effective and well-organised advocacy,” he said after the closing of the southern zone cadet JPJ corps’ camp at Kampung Lancang in Merlimau here on Wednesday night (Nov 29).

Also present was Melaka works, infrastructure, public amenities and transport committee chairman Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer.

The camp was attended by 300 students from Johor, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and here.

Rospiagos had been asked earlier how seriously JPJ viewed the recent report that over 23,000 motorists were caught without a driving licence during the nationwide Ops Patuh Bersepadu 2023.

On Nov 26, JPJ’s senior enforcement director, Datuk Lokman Jamaan, said that 23,748 notices were issued to road users for that offence during the 14-day operation, which ended on Friday (Nov 24).

He added that most offenders were motorists aged 15 to 35.

Rospiagos acknowledged that the majority of the 23,000 motorists without driving licences were students.

He said the move to organise camp activities for the schoolchildren is also seen as an appropriate step in realising significant improvements in road safety.

He added the members of the cadet corps will act as JPJ “agents” to disseminate road safety at their respective schools and even within the community.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/30/jpj-look-to-address-youths-driving-without-licence-issue-through-advocacy