Risky riders: Motorcyclists are the greatest danger to themselves and other drivers on the road. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Road users appear to have plenty to say about their brush with reckless motorcyclists.
“He simply made a turn in front of my car and then immediately stopped in the middle of the road,” said manager Mohd Zainal Ariffin, 38, in recounting one incident.
“I almost hit him,” he said, adding that he honked at the motorcyclist. The offender, he said, was a p-hailing rider using his phone while riding his motorbike.
“I believed that he reached his delivery location (hence the abrupt stop).”
Mohd Zainal said the rider did not even use his signal light when he made a turn.
“There has to be better enforcement and higher penalties issued to those putting others in danger,” he added.
Freelance writer Tan Ah Wah, 31, recounted an incident when he was driving and kept to the right lane as he wanted to turn right.
“But a motorbike from the far left suddenly came into my lane,” he said, adding that he did not honk at the motorcyclist, who even had the audacity to make a vulgar gesture at him.
Freelance model Daisy Charlie, 37, said some motorcyclists seemed to disregard other vehicles on the road.
“Sometimes they even care that they hit my side mirrors,” she said.
She said the law must be more stringent, acknowledging, however, that many people depend on their motorcycles to earn a living.
Businessman Azman Bakri, 51, said he is always on his toes when he spots motorcyclists riding close by when he drives.
He related an experience with a 15-year-old biker who crashed into his car several years ago in Seremban.
“The boy had no helmet on and, of course, no licence. Both our vehicles were damaged. I ended up bearing the cost of not just the repairs for my car, but out of pity, I also paid for the boy’s medical treatment. I blame the parents for allowing their son to ride a motorbike, knowing full well he should not be doing so,” he added.
Hamzah Osman, a retiree said: “I have witnessed so many near-misses when these riders beat the red light.”
Hamzah believed that a lack of parental supervision was among the main causes of accidents among young motorcyclists.
He shared how a 17-year-old relative was killed two weeks ago in a road accident in Shah Alam.
“The boy was with a large group of friends at about 4.30am and they were drag racing when his motorcycle malfunctioned.
“Though he wore a crash helmet, he was killed on the spot. He was the only son of his parents,” he added.
Businessman Mac Wong, who is in his 50s, said the government should make it a law that bikers were only to ride on the left or slow lane. He said it was frightening when motorcyclists weaved in and out of traffic.
“Many times, they have hit my side mirrors,” he said.
Wong recounted an incident when he was terrified for his safety after a group of bikers threatened him following an accident with another rider.
“The rider was speeding and lost control of his motorcycle before crashing into my car near Batu Caves. It was his fault, but I attended to the rider to check on his injuries.
“However, a group of passing motorcyclists gathered and started hurling abuse at me as if I was at fault. They were not even there earlier. Luckily the injured rider admitted he was in the wrong,” he said.
Federal police traffic enforcement and investigations department Commissioner Datuk Seri Mat Kasim Karim cited annual statistics that showed about 1,600 accidents daily, of which 50% involved motorcyclists and pillion riders.He said on an average, 17 people perished in road accidents daily, of which 70% of the deaths comprised of motorcyclists and pillion riders Mat Kasim said motorcyclists who were reckless tend to be those aged between 15 and 23.
“It is worrying that lives are lost or people left crippled at such a tender age.
He emphasised parental supervision and educating youngsters about road safety.“It has to start at home,” he said.
As for those who witness reckless bikers, Mat Kasim encouraged them to report them to traffic police.
“It is best to have a dash cam these days. Any recording of reckless riders or those breaching traffic laws can be uploaded on our Facebook page or handed over to the nearest district police.
“We will track down the offenders,” he said.
