Debated in Parliament on 21 Oct 2013.
Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Transport (a) since 2010, what is the number of vehicles, excluding motorcycles, of which the owners are fined for unauthorised installation of High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps; (b) how does LTA ensure that vehicles with HID headlamps come equipped with the auto-levelling feature; and (c) whether there has been cases of road accidents caused by the glare of HID headlamps used by vehicles on the road.
Since 2010, the owners of 28 vehicles per month on average, excluding motorcycles, have been fined for headlamp non-compliance, including the unauthorised installation of High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps. The available records from the Traffic Police indicate that there have not been any accidents since 2005 caused by drivers dazzled by light from other vehicles.
LTA requires all newly-registered vehicles with HID headlamps to be equipped with an auto-levelling feature, unless the headlamps are mounted lower and meet certain headlamp aim requirements. LTA ensures this through its vehicle type approval process that all vehicle models have to go through before they are cleared for import.
LTA's enforcement officers look out for vehicles fitted with very bright headlamps that do not comply with its requirements. Owners of non-complying vehicles are liable on conviction to a fine of up to $1,000, or a jail term of up to three months. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, the offender shall be liable to a fine of up to $2,000, or a jail term of up to six months.
PAPERCUTS