KUALA LUMPUR: A road safety expert has suggested that the minimum age for motorcyclists be raised from 16 to 19 years, to reduce the alarming number of motorcycle-related fatalities in Malaysia.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Road Safety Research Centre Head, Associate Professor Dr. Law Teik Hua said the need for this policy change is a critical step towards decreasing the risks faced by young, inexperienced riders.
"We must reduce the exposure and use of motorcycles, particularly among teenagers, by raising the minimum riding age from 16 to 19 years. This policy change will decrease the number of students and inexperienced young riders on the roads, thereby reducing their exposure to risks and ultimately lowering fatalities," he said.
As reported by Harian Metro, Law said awareness campaigns alone were insufficient to curb road accidents unless supported by proactive measures such as enhanced law enforcement and the separation of motorcycle lanes from the main lanes.
Law pointed to the worrying statistic of 600,000 road accidents reported last year and the rise in motorcycle fatalities from 60 per cent to 75 per cent.
He stressed the need for immediate and impactful steps to reverse this trend.
"One of the most effective ways to reduce motorcycle-related accidents is to physically separate motorcycles from other vehicles, minimising the chances of collisions between motorcycles and larger vehicles.
"My recommendation is to construct more dedicated motorcycle lanes in critical areas, similar to the successful Blue Motorcycle Lane concept implemented in São Paulo, Brazil," he said.
He said this designated lane system initiative in Brazil significantly reduced motorcycle accidents and injuries by providing a safe, dedicated space for motorcyclists, thereby avoiding collision with other road users.
"Effective traffic law enforcement and rapid response to road incidents are crucial for reducing motorcycle fatalities.
"For instance, the Automatic Road Incident Detection System (ARIDS), developed by the Road Safety Research Centre at UPM, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor road conditions 24 hours a day. This system can detect road incidents in real-time and automatically notify road safety authorities via social media platforms like WhatsApp.
"By improving the speed and accuracy of incident detection, authorities can respond more quickly, potentially saving lives and preventing further accidents," Law said.
He believes that when implemented effectively, these measures could not only help reverse the rising trend of motorcycle fatalities but also create safer roads for all users.
"Road safety awareness programmes are indeed crucial for educating the public, but they will not be effective if not accompanied by these comprehensive, integrated measures implemented simultaneously.
"Without these steps, awareness campaigns may fail to achieve their goal of reducing the number of road accidents, which reached 600,000 cases last year," he said.