Expert suggests making motorcycle lanes compulsory on new roads

UPM’s Law Teik Hua strongly suggests making motorcycle lanes a ‘must’ when constructing new roads.

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According to a road safety expert, there is a need for laws to take motorcycle lanes compulsory in the construction of new roads. Law Teik Hua of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Road Safety Research Centre is of the view that this would help reduce road crashes involving motorcycles.

Adding motorcycle lanes along existing roads may be difficult as there would be a need to retrofit these roads. This is a costly option. As such, there is a need to be progressive with new roads.

“Therefore, a law should be drafted to ensure that when roads are built, motorcycle lanes will also be built,” he said.

A motorcycle lane would help reduce deaths by 30% to 40%. Recent reports show that Malaysia is close to replacing Thailand as the country with the world’s worst death rate involving motorcyclists. Just this year, seven out of 10 people who died on the road in Malaysia were motorcycle users.

Official figures by Bukit Aman’s traffic department show that motorcycle users accounted for 70.2% of the nationwide fatalities of 2,954 (all types of vehicles) from January to August. Law stated that motorcycle safety is an ongoing issue in Malaysia. Motorcyclists would use the emergency lane, assuming it was for them. However, such decisions often turn hostile, which is worrisome.

“There are quite a number of road accidents involving motorcyclists who use the emergency lane on highways. Emergency lanes are only to be used for emergency purposes. The government should not close its eyes and think that this is not a big issue,” he said.

Transport planning consultant Rosli Azad Khan expressed that protective clothing should be made compulsory for motorcyclists. This is especially for those with big bikes.

He also suggested that small powered motorcycles (250CC and below,) should stay off the highways.

“Small motorcycles will suffer from air drift from faster vehicles, especially coaches, vans and lorries, on highways.”

It is important for motorcycles to always be vigilant on the road.