Road users in Malaysia can get up to 6 months in jail or RM2,000 fine if their vehicle horns have more than 1 tone

If you’ve used the expressway in Malaysia or live in an area frequented by trucks or tour buses, then you’ve probably encountered heavy vehicles with melodic horns ‘singing’ to popular songs. Reception to this trend is rather divisive, as while some may find it to be hilarious and a welcoming entertainment during traffic jams, others see it more as a nuisance on the road.

However, one thing’s for certain is that having melodic horns on a vehicle is actually illegal in our country. In fact, having vehicle horns that are more than one tone in Malaysia can theoretically land you up to 6 months in jail or an RM2,000 fine!

Join us as we delve into what is arguably one of the most peculiar traffic rules in Malaysia below.

Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules 1959 LN 170/59

The relevant law on this matter is one of the rules and regulations under the Road Transport Act 1987, which is the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules 1959 LN 170/59.

Specifically, Regulation 24(i) prescribes the following:

As per the above provision, the regulation prescribes that all motor vehicles, except a pedestrian-controlled vehicle, should be fitted with horns, which the regulation defines as “an instrument capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of its approach or position”.

Furthermore, the regulation prescribes that the motor vehicle horns can’t include a gong, bell or 2-tone horn. The only exception to this rule is motor vehicles used by the fire brigade, ambulances or for the purposes of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). The regulation also forbids the use of sirens on motor vehicles, except for vehicles used for fire brigade or police purposes.

Hence, it’s illegal for motor vehicles in Malaysia to have horns with more than one tone, except for the specific use cases mentioned earlier.

Section 119(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987

Given that the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules 1959 LN 170/59 is a rule and regulation under the Road Transport Act 1987, the punishment for any offences under it is prescribed by the parent Act.

Moreover, given that there are no specific penalties mentioned for the offence, Section 119(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987 below would be applicable:

As you can see from the above provision, Section 119 of the Road Transport Act 1987 details the general offences and penalties under the Act.

Section 119(2) thus prescribes the penalty for offences under Regulation 24(i) of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules 1959 LN 170/59, which is a fine of up to RM2,000 or imprisonment of up to 6 months.

Additionally, if it’s a second or subsequent conviction, the penalty one can face if convicted is a fine of up to RM4,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.

Of course, it’s worth noting that while an individual can indeed face jail time for committing this offence, more often than not, offenders are only fined, with no imprisonment punishment being meted out as of the time of writing for not adhering to Regulation 24(i) of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules 1959 LN 170/59

As to why the regulation was introduced in the first place, a Sinar Harian report from March 2021 quoted then JPJ Selangor Director Nazli Md Taib as saying that having horns with more than one tone can cause confusion among road users regarding the message that the driver was trying to convey. Furthermore, these horns can only cause public nuisance, especially when used in a residential area.

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