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You Could Be Fined For Using Your Phone In A Traffic Jam

"Motorists caught holding a phone will be issued a summons. Yes, this includes waiting at the traffic light or in traffic jams."

Cover image via KL Coconuts

You might want to think twice before reaching for your phone while waiting at the traffic light because holding your phone while on the wheels in now an offence

Image via Red Aware

We do it all the time, right? Many of us take that time to check our Facebook status, upload a photo on Instagram or to tweet about the weather.

Federal traffic investigation and enforcement department director SAC Datuk Mahamad Akhir Darus said that this is a serious problem and the police is not taking it lightly

Federal traffic investigation and enforcement department director SAC Datuk Mahamad Akhir Darus

Image via Astro Awani

"Motorists caught holding a phone will be issued a summons. Yes, this includes waiting at the traffic light or in traffic jams," he said in an interview with The Sun.

He also added that unlike criminal offences where the police has to prove one’s guilt, this is a compounded summons where offenders have to prove otherwise to dispute their case

A police summons

Image via Driving School Malaysia

"Unlike criminal cases where the onus is on us to prove one's guilt, this is a compound summons and it is up to the offenders to prove otherwise if they wish to dispute their case.

There's no reason why a motorist should be holding a phone while driving when his or her hand should be on the steering wheel. It only takes a split second for an accident to happen," he added.

On 26 June, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the usage of mobile phones while driving is the main cause of accidents in Malaysia

Image via CNN

"Although phones have changed our lives, it has also changed the question of road safety and can be extremely dangerous when we use it on the wheels to take photos or surf the Internet," said Liow.

It's time to put down your phone and focus on the road, guys!

Image via Giphy

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