PDRM Explains Why Police Escorting Luxury Cars In Kelantan Overtook On Double Line
The Facebook user who uploaded the video had to swerve his car to the side of the road for the convoy that was escorting two tow trucks carrying luxury cars.
By Ivyna Ong — 29 Jul 2022, 05:27 PM
A motorist was almost involved in an accident after police escorts overtook traffic by crossing the double line in Jalan Gua Musang-Kota Bharu, according to the dashcam footage of the incident
The 11-second video was shared in a Facebook group, showing the motorist driving on a small stretch of the road on Jalan Gua Musang-Kota Bharu when police escort cars suddenly appeared, driving towards the motorist in the same lane.
The owner of the video had to immediately swerve his car to the side of the road for the convoy that was escorting two tow trucks carrying luxury cars.
The Facebook user asked members of the public who would be in the wrong if they were involved in an accident.
Following the viral video, Kelantan acting police chief Datuk Zaki Harun said that the vehicles on the road were already warned through sirens and emergency lights
He added that road users have to cooperate with police escort cars by giving them way to pass or slowing down to avoid any unfortunate incidents from happening.
During a press conference at the Kelantan police contingent headquarters on Wednesday, 27 July, Zaki addressed the confusion among members of the public.
"Escort vehicles have rules and they cannot stop arbitrarily because they have given sirens and warnings to road users," he was reported as saying by Sinar Harian.
Moreover, he added that it is the responsibility of a police escort vehicle to carry out their duty on public roads according to Section 21 of the Police Act 1967.
The video drew many angry responses from netizens who criticised police escort vehicles for allegedly endangering the lives of road users
A netizen commented that when police escorts show their authority on the road by doing things their way for the sake of reaching their destination earlier, it shows that the safety of other road users is not important to them.
Another Facebook user said, "The escort is in the wrong, there is already a double line. You know it is wrong but you still continue to do it!!! What is the use of enforcement. The person is still in the wrong, Royal Police Malaysia (PDRM) please take action."
"They are the law. You don't need to challenge them (because) you won't win. Acts that do not exist will eventually come a law," another said.
A couple of months ago, a man was jailed for 12 days and slapped with a RM10,000 fine for refusing to give way to Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud's escort:
