Malaysian transport ministry may ban tinted helmet visors
Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (Left) speaking to the media.
Martin Carvalho | The Star/Asia News Network | Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR - The Transport Ministry will look into the possibility of banning tinted motorcycle helmet visors to prevent criminals from abusing it.
This is in light of the recent spate of fatal shootings involving assailants using such helmets to conceal their identities, said acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
"At present, there is no prohibition. But, if there are views that it can prevent such incidents, the ministry will consider looking into banning tinted visors," he said after visiting the TBS Integrated Terminal in Bandar Tasik Selatan yesterday. He said he would look at the feedback on the issue before deciding.
Tinted visors, he said, were merely one factor in the recent shootings and that it was more crucial for the Home Ministry to conduct investigations to determine where the firearms were obtained from.
He was commenting on suggestions from several quarters calling on authorities to review the ruling on tinted motorcycle visors following the recent spate of shootings where assailants were said to have worn helmets with tinted visors.
Under the current road transport regulations gazetted in April last year, all motorcyclists and pillion riders are required to wear protective helmets and visors. However, the new regulation is silent on the type of helmets or nature of the visors as long as they are approved by SIRIM Berhad.
On a separate issue, Hisham*m*uddin expressed disappointment and worry at the 53 road fatalities since the start of the joint road safety and enforcement campaigns by several agencies on Aug 1.
Some three million vehicles are expected to be using the highways during the festive holiday break compared to an average of 1.9 million vehicles on normal days.
He said the ministry would conduct a post-mortem of the traffic situation after the 15-day Ops Selamat campaign.
