PUTRAJAYA: Physical driving tests may become a thing of the past once the automated driving test or “etesting” is gradually introduced.

Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim says the proposed etesting system, currently undergoing trials, is expected to be launched in April.

“Those taking their driving test through the system will be able to get their results immediately as tests will be conducted in real-time.

“This will speed up the process tremendously compared to the previous two-week waiting time for test results,” he told reporters after delivering his New Year’s message to JPJ officers here yesterday.

Zailani said the system would help reduce manpower when the simulated computerised driving test is conducted.

“At present, six to seven JPJ officers are needed during driving tests. With etesting, we will reduce this to two or three officers.

“This will allow the department to utilise the extra manpower for enforcement and other work,” he said.

The simulated driving test will be based on the current six-point physical driving test.

“Those tested will have to perform parking, uphill driving and three-point turn but through simulations,” he added.

He noted that South Korea and Japan were among the countries currently employing etesting.

The system will be implemented gradually with an estimated 232 driving schools free to adopt etesting applications from service providers.

In November last year, egovernment service provider MY EG Services Bhd (MYEG) received approval from JPJ to conduct a proof of concept (POC) to set up an automated training and driving test system.

The POC is to run from Dec 1, 2021, to February 2022.

Meanwhile, Zailani said JPJ and the Road Safety Department (JKJR) would engage p-hailing companies to educate delivery riders on road safety.

“There are instances of delivery riders beating the red light.

“They are pressed for time and don’t care if they beat the red light,” he said.

He noted that JPJ’s Ops Merah late last year saw 1,193 summonses issued to p-hailing riders caught beating the red light.

So far, JPJ has conducted advocacy programmes involving 10,360 delivery riders.

It was reported that 3,118 fatal road accidents involved motorcyclists in 2020, which is more than 60% of the total 4,364 fatalities.

On a separate matter, Zailani said JPJ managed to collect RM4bil in revenue last year and had set a target of RM4.12bil for this year.