# Road Transport Act 1987: Malaysia's Road and Traffic Law, Decoded

> The Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) is Malaysia's principal statute governing motor vehicles, driver licensing, road traffic and compulsory third-party insurance, enforced by JPJ — with penalties for offences like driving without a licence, dangerous driving and drink-driving sharply raised by the 2020 amendment.

- Category: law
- Language: en
- Status: published
- Updated: 2026-08-14
- Canonical: https://negaraku.md/en/law/road-transport-act-1987

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Almost every JPJ *saman*, every driving-licence class, and every third-party insurance policy in Malaysia traces back to one statute: the **Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333)**, in Malay the *Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987*. It is the country's principal law for motor vehicles and road traffic, and it is enforced mainly by the **Road Transport Department (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan, JPJ)**. Below is a plain-language map of what each Part governs and what the common offences now cost.

## What does the Act actually cover?

Its long title describes an Act to regulate motor vehicles and traffic on roads and other matters relating to roads and vehicles; to provide third-party protection against risks arising from the use of motor vehicles; and to co-ordinate and control the means and facilities for transport and for the construction and adaptation of motor vehicles. In short: it ties together licensing, road use, insurance and enforcement in a single framework.

The Act was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on 10 July 1987 and the Dewan Negara on 17 July 1987, received Royal Assent on **30 August 1987**, and commenced on **24 September 1987**. JPJ maintains the current consolidated text; the latest reprint is the version amended as at 15 October 2023.

## How is the Act structured?

Act 333 is organised into five main Parts (with two inserted sub-Parts), reported as comprising 129 sections and 3 schedules:

| Part | What it governs |
|------|-----------------|
| Part I | Preliminary — interpretation and application |
| Part II | Classification, registration and licensing of motor vehicles and drivers |
| Part IIA | Periodic inspection of motor vehicles |
| Part IIB | Foreign motor vehicles |
| Part III | Roads |
| Part IV | Provisions against third-party risks (compulsory motor insurance) |
| Part V | Offences and miscellaneous provisions |

Part IV is where the Act's third-party protection purpose becomes concrete: it underpins Malaysia's compulsory third-party motor-insurance regime.

## What are the main offences and their penalties?

Part V defines the core traffic offences. The **Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2020** came into operation on **23 October 2020** and substantially increased punishments and disqualification periods for offences under sections 41 to 45A, covering reckless and dangerous driving and driving under the influence. It also introduced a new definition of "micromobility vehicle". The headline figures, for a first offence:

| Section | Offence | Penalty (first offence, as amended) |
|---------|---------|--------------------------------------|
| s.26(1) | Driving without a valid licence | Prohibited (penalty pending verification) |
| s.41 | Causing death by reckless or dangerous driving | RM20,000-RM50,000 fine and/or 5-10 years' jail |
| s.42 | Reckless and dangerous driving | Up to RM5,000-RM10,000 fine and up to 5 years' jail; disqualification raised to 5 years |
| s.44 | Causing death or serious injury while under the influence | RM50,000-RM100,000 fine and/or up to 15 years' jail |

For section 41, that first-offence band is a sharp rise from the previous RM5,000-RM20,000 fine and 2-10 years' jail; a subsequent offence now carries RM50,000-RM100,000 and up to 15 years. Section 44's subsequent offences run to 15-20 years' jail and a fine up to RM150,000.

## How did drink-driving limits change?

The 2020 amendment lowered the prescribed alcohol limits to World Health Organization standards. The breath-alcohol limit fell from **35 to 22 micrograms** per 100 ml, the blood-alcohol limit from **80 to 50 milligrams** per 100 ml, and the urine limit from **107 to 67 milligrams** per 100 ml. In practice, this means a lower threshold at which a driver is legally over the limit than before October 2020.

## What's next

Before relying on any exact section number, fine, or the compulsory-insurance penalty in a legal matter, check the authoritative Attorney General's Chambers (AGC/LOM) reprint of Act 333 and JPJ's official portal for the current licence classes and enforcement rules. Several precise figures on this page — including the section 26(1) and section 90 penalties — remain flagged for verification against the primary statute text.

## Sources

- Act 333 - Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ) — https://www.jpj.gov.my/en/act-333/ (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) / Road Transport Department Malaysia)
- Road Transport Act 1987 — Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_Transport_Act_1987 (Wikipedia)
- Driving Without a License: What are your potential liabilities? — https://www.thomasphilip.com.my/articles/driving-without-a-license-what-are-your-potential-liabilities/ (Thomas Philip Advocates and Solicitors)
- Amendments to Road Transport Act in force from 23 October 2020 — https://www.allenandgledhill.com/publication/articles/17102/amendments-to-road-transport-act-in-force-from-23-october-2020 (Allen & Gledhill)
- Road Transport Act amendments detailed — increased fines and longer jail terms — https://paultan.org/2020/07/29/road-transport-act-amendments-detailed-increased-fines-and-longer-jail-terms-not-just-for-drink-driving/ (paultan.org)

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