PUTRAJAYA, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- There is no need to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 as the mandatory jail sentence for dangerous driving to the extent of causing the death of the accident victims is already provided under the Act.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha in a statement said that studies, however, could be done to gauge the effectiveness of the existing law with the aim of improving it in future.

He was responding to the proposal by Road Safety Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye for the government to impose a mandatory jail sentence for drivers who cause road accident fatalities.

Kong said the existing provisions under the Road Transport Act were for driving offences that were categorised as serious with mandatory jail sentence provided, besides a fine.

"The offences cover reckless driving that causes death, reckless and dangerous driving, unsafe and inconsiderate driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs," he said.

Kong said Section 41 of the act, for example, stated that causing death by driving recklessly or dangerously carried a jail term of not less than two years and not more than 10 years, a fine of not less than RM5,000 and not more than RM10,000 and the offender's driving licence suspended for not less than three years.

Under Section 42, the offence of reckless and dangerous driving, but not causing death, carries a jail term of up to five years and a fine of between RM5,000 and RM15,000.

A repeated offence carries a jail term of up to 10 years, a fine of RM10,000 to RM20,000 and the offender's driving licence suspended for two years.