Too Drunk to Drive? Tow Truckers Offer to Bring You & Your Car Home

By Karissa Lund  •  03 Aug 2020 in News

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Instead of leaving your car on the side of the road and hopping on an e-hailing service, a group of tow truckers came up with an innovative idea of towing the car with the driver seated inside for anyone who’s too drunk to drive.

According to The Star, the service costs exactly like service rendered during breakdowns in Penang which is priced at RM100 to RM120. Tow trucker Chan Kok Hoe, 43, said he came up with the idea after frequently seeing news of accidents caused by drunk-driving.

“It is a safer option than trying to drive when drunk. Rather than risk being jailed for up to 15 years and fined up to RM100,000, this is more reasonable,” Chan explained.

He also urged other licensed tow truck companies to consider offering the same service.

While it is still more expensive than just hiring a chauffeur to drive your car back home, Chan said, “Licensed tow truckers have insurance that protects your car when you engage us, so this is a safer option.”

In a report by FMT in May, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed deep concern over the number of drunk driving cases so far.

According to police statistics from January to May 2020, there had been 21 road accidents involving drunken drivers with eight deaths. In comparison, there were only 23 cases reported in 2019.

On July 15, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong proposed amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) that will both lower the threshold for a person to be considered driving under the influence when it comes to alcohol while at the same time increase penalties for those caught doing so.

Under the proposed amendments, those convicted of causing death due to dangerous or reckless driving will face at least five years of jail time, up from the current two years, as well as a fine of not less than RM20,000.

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