High risk on highway: A motorcyclist navigating his way between larger vehicles. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The lack of motorcycle lanes on Malaysia’s roads and underutilisation by its users has contributed to the rise in motorcycle accidents, says a road safety expert.
Motorcyclists have to share the road space with other types of vehicles, increasing the risk of accidents, said Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua from Universiti Putra Malaysia.
If constructing dedicated motorcycle lanes are not feasible, Law suggested that authorities consider creating “blue motorcycle lanes”.
“Blue motorcycle lanes have been implemented in Brazil and proven effective in reducing motorcycle accidents.
“Such a concept could serve as a model here,” he said in an interview.
Blue motorcycle lanes are lanes with blue dotted lines painted along the middle section of the road for exclusive use by motorcyclists.
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) chairman Dr Wong Shaw Voon said enforcement is crucial when it comes to getting motorcyclists to use dedicated motorcycle lanes.
“There is no point having a dedicated motorcycle lane if motorcyclists are not using it,” he added.
He said motorcycle lanes must be properly maintained and regularly inspected.
Dr Wong said the original route of dedicated motorcycle lanes along the Federal Highway had undergone several changes over the years, resulting in many motorcyclists preferring not to use the lane.
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“There are more turn-offs along this route, which makes it more difficult for some motorcyclists to navigate.
“However, it is better for them to choose safety over convenience,” he added.
Alliance for a Safe Community founder and chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the creation of dedicated motorcycle lanes and non-exclusive motorcycle lanes by motorcyclists are ideas that can help reduce accidents.
Investing more in the construction of additional motorcycle lanes is worthwhile as lives can be saved, he added.
“Just imagine the thousands of lives saved over the past few decades if there were more motorcycle lanes given the fact that the Federal Highway is a busy highway,” he added.
However, Lee said dedicated motorcycle lanes must be maintained and properly lit if they are to be widely used by motorcyclists.
“You often see some motorcyclists riding on the Federal Highway instead of using the motorcycle lanes.
“I have asked some of them why they do this, and they replied that it is because of the poor condition of the dedicated motorcycle lanes,” he said.
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If such dedicated lanes are not feasible on a large scale, Lee said laws could be enacted so that motorcyclists are only allowed to travel on the left side of roads and highways without encroaching into the main lane.
“For this to be done, double lines can be painted on the left flank with a space big enough for motorcyclists to use,” he added.
A study in 2023 by international research organisation ResearchGate on 11 roads in Malaysia showed that more than 95% of motorcyclists preferred to use the non-exclusive motorcycle lanes along two-lane single carriageways.
The findings added that non-exclusive motorcycle lanes can lead to motorcyclists riding slower while separating them from other motorised vehicles, which could reduce the risk of crashes with other vehicles.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim voiced concern over the high number of road fatalities involving motorcyclists after meeting Lee, who raised the issue during their talk.
The issue was brought up by Anwar during the Cabinet meeting the following day, noting that road safety awareness campaigns should be intensified, with parents playing their part in advising their children to be safe when riding their motorcycles.
