KUALA LUMPUR: In 2023, an average of 12 motorcyclists die daily on the roads, accounting for approximately 75 per cent of all road crashes.
Based on the Federal Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department statistics, Malaysia recorded 600,000 motorcycle crashes last year, with an average of 1,644 cases daily.
Of the total daily cases, 17 were fatal accidents, 18 deaths, of which 12 were motorcyclists.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (TIED) director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, in an interview with Utusan Malaysia, said this was a spike from the numbers recorded the year before.
He said the increase may be due to the higher number of motorcyclists and pillion riders on the road.
"Many factors cause motorcycle accidents such as riding dangerously or recklessly, road conditions and crashes resulting from other vehicles," he was quoted as saying.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed concern over the high number of accidents involving motorcyclists which he said was closely linked to the lack of law enforcement and poor road conditions.
Acknowledging Anwar's concerns, Yusri said the department would enhance enforcement by ramping up operations and implementing stricter measures.
He said stricter enforcement would involve summoning and holding the parents of underage offenders accountable for their under-16 children's traffic violations, as permitted under Section 31 of the Children Act 2001 and Section 19 of the Road Transport Act 1987.
"Besides that, we also conduct 'Ops Samseng Jalanan' every week which cracks down on illegal racing activities.
"We also periodically go down to the ground to investigate and gather information on where illegal races are regularly held.
Mohd Yusri said that the department also has launched road safety campaigns at various levels including in schools through 'Op Didik'.
He said Op Didik was mainly to give students better knowledge, awareness and road safety reminders, so they would be extra careful when riding their motorcycles on the road and would follow all the traffic rules for safer travel.