The road transport department (JPJ) has introduced new guidelines for the establishment of driving institutes (IM), with the new rules allowing training areas to be built in warehouses, commercial premises and even on the rooftops of multi-storey buildings, Bernama reports.
According to JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, the new guidelines will allow unused land, buildings or large warehouses to be converted into driving institutes. He added that such facilities will be limited to Class D and B vehicles, namely cars and motorcycles.
As for the move to allow driving schools to operate in multi-storey buildings, he said it is an innovative solution to address land constraints, particularly in densely populated and high-value urban areas. “However, strict requirements must be met, including ensuring high levels of safety for candidates, instructors and the public, as well as designing training spaces that are conducive and secure to ensure uninterrupted learning,” he said.
He said underutilised rooftop areas in multi-storey buildings such as shopping malls can be considered, subject to compliance with safety requirements. “For instance, if circuits are built on rooftops, the structure must be strong and meet all specified standards,” he said.
He added that the new guidelines also contain updates in other areas, including removing the minimum distance requirement between driving institutes as well as the minimum land size for new developments, with the department assessing applications by IMs based on the capacity and readiness of existing institutes in the area.
Additionally, driving institutes will no longer be restricted by geographic zones in accepting candidates, allowing schools to enrol learners from any location across the country. Aedy Fadly said the new guidelines were developed in line with the Motor Vehicles (Driving Schools) Rules 1992 and the Road Transport Act 1987, and are aimed at strengthening the regulation of the driving institute industry.
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