Big jump in deaths of motorcyclists

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is alarmed at the latest motor vehicle accident statistics which indicate that between 10 to 15 motorcycle riders and pillion riders die as a result of accidents every day in the country.

There has been a 9.6 per cent increase in deaths which translate into 290 additional deaths of which 211 were motorcycle riders and pillion riders, between January and June 2008. This made a total of 3,305 cases as opposed to 3,015 cases within the same period in 2007. In fact, up until September 2007 there were a total of 4,646 deaths resulting from road accidents. Out of this, 2,476 or 53.3 per cent consisted of riders and pillion riders. In 2006, there was a total of 6,287 road accident related deaths of which 3,693 or 58.7 per cent involved riders and pillion riders.

According to the Road Safety Department (JKJR), there are 14 main factors contributing to road accident occurrences in the country with speeding as the primary cause (32.8%) followed by careless driving (28.2%), reckless driving (15.5 %), tailgating (3.8%) and poor road conditions (3%). Overall, motorists’ attitude was found to be the cause for 76.1 per cent of accidents.

Studies also show that motorcyclists run the highest risk of being involved in road accidents followed by car users who are 17 times less at risk. The risk rate decreases with bus passengers who are 30 times less at risk than that. Train passengers are 325 times safer than bus passengers and airplane passengers are 6,000 times safer than train passengers.

The Road Safety Commission Report issued by the Australian Government in May 1978 shows that studies indicate that motorcyclists are more vulnerable to dangers posed by pot-holes and oil spills on roads than other motorists. Moreover, motorcyclists are virtually unprotected from impacts resulting from collisions with road dividers, traffic lights, lamp posts and road signboards.

According to a working paper by the Transport Ministry of Australia, Motorbike Safety In Queensland, Australia, 2008, 39 per cent of accidents occurring in Australia involved youths who had acquired their licenses for less than a year. Consequently, the establishment of stricter regulations for the issuance of licenses was seen to be as the best approach to minimize road accident incidences among youths.

CAP urges the Transport Ministry to make it mandatory that motorcyclists between the ages of 17 and 21 be allowed to ride only motorcycles with engine cubic capacities not exceeding 70c.c. This is to restrain them from speeding and riding recklessly. It is imperative that motorcycles of 70c.c. or less are reintroduced into the market to help save their lives as well as those of other road users.

There is also an immediate need by the Transport Ministry to tighten motorcycle license issuance regulations to those as young as 16 years old. It is illogical to assume that a youth of that age would be aware of road safety rules and be sufficiently mature to be responsible for his life and that of others. Many of them are inclined to perceive their machines as merely instruments of fun and recklessness.

The present liberal attitude with regards to the issuance of motorcycle licenses to minors has inevitably given rise to the Mat Rempit and illegal racing phenomenon. It is undoubtedly this segment of motorcyclists who are responsible for this form of lawlessness and the increase in their road accident related deaths and those of other road users.

Mat Rempits and illegal racers routinely modify their motorcycles to increase power and speed capabilities. Ralph Nader, in his book Unsafe at Any Speed, explains that riders riding motorcycles which have been modified for speed exceeding their original capacities would experience imbalances in handling and loss of control and are at a high risk of being involved in bad accidents.

CAP urges the Transport Ministry and JKJR to adopt a sterner and more conservative approach in drafting a realistic strategy with regards to motorcycle license application and renewal policies with the objective of reducing road accidents and deaths among our youths.