KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — A total of 2.56 million traffic summonses were issued by the police in the first eight months of this year, Utusan Malaysia reported today.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Seri Mat Kasim Karim said that the amount involved 1.52 million K257 summonses, which are issued on the spot, along with another 1.03 million K170A compounds for offences detected through cameras or when enforcement is carried out.

He said that the highest number of offences involved violating traffic signs, which amounted to 985,635 summonses.

"These include exceeding the speed limit, disobeying traffic signals, driving in the emergency lane, cutting across double lines, queue jumping and using a mobile phone while driving.

"Out of that number, a total of 555,002 licence summonses were issued against those who did not have a valid licence or had an expired licence,” the Malay-language portal quoted him as saying.

In addition, 205,464 summonses involved accidents, while 187,120 were compounded for number plates that did not comply with the specifications of the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

"A total of 154,369 summonses were also issued for offences that contributed to road accidents.

"For example, when a vehicle breaks down, and the driver fails to deploy a warning triangle, which leads to an accident,” he said.

According to Mat Kasim, the police regularly carry out enforcement and operations to ensure that road users follow the rules.

Utusan Malaysia reported the issuance of 116,103 saman ekor or postal summons with an estimated value of more than RM34 million throughout the country in an operation that started on August 21.

Mat Kasim reportedly said that of that total, car drivers recorded the highest number of summonses at 93,203 while 20,569 summonses were issued against other vehicles, including drivers of four-wheel drive cars (4×4), vans and taxis.

Another 1,757 summonses were issued against commercial vehicles while another 574 were issued to motorcyclists.