Malaysia has set up an online hall of shame where the public can post pictures of traffic offenders as part of a campaign to instil discipline and safety on roads.
The web site, www.panducermat.org.my, was launched on Tuesday and will be used to catch offenders who usually get away because of a lack of enforcement, said Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy.
Pandu cermat in the local Bahasa Malayu language means drive carefully.
People can upload pictures of violators snapped with cell phones or digital cameras, Chan said. "We will redirect the photos and details to the Road Transport Department or traffic police for action," he said.
It is not clear how the site administrators can identify doctored pictures or how officials will verify the authenticity of the shots.
Despite having first class road infrastructure, Malaysian motorists, like their counterparts in many Asian countries, are notorious for speeding, beating traffic lights, jumping queues and ignoring pedestrian crossings.
Nearly 900 accidents are reported daily nationwide, causing an average of 17 deaths per day, according to government statistics.
The web site is the latest in a series of steps planned by the government to reduce the figure. Chief among them is a plan to install high tech cameras along highways, traffic light junctions and other accident-prone stretches. The government also plans to build watchtowers on highways so that police can more easily spot negligent drivers.
