Accident rate still high despite having m-cycle lanes, says expert

SERDANG: Despite having motorcycle lanes, the country is unable to leverage its intended purpose effectively to reduce the rate of accidents, says a road safety expert.

Prof Dr Kulanthayan KC Mani of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) said motorcycles were an essential mode of transport in the country.

“Having motorcycle lanes can reduce motorcycle-related accident rates by up to 40%.

“We need to find a way to use it effectively because it is a proven intervention,” he said after his inaugural lecture series on Children Safety on the road, Public Health Vaccine at UPM here yesterday.

He also said there should be regular road maintenance to ensure a smoother riding experience.

He said designated pedestrian walkways and areas should only be confined to what has been stipulated under its regulations.

The use of e-scooters will interfere with the movement of pedestrians either on pavements, shopping complexes or schools, he said.

"Countries that have heavily invested in public transportation and rail services have lower accident rates in general, so we have to work within our context.

“We also need to know who the road users are, and see the best land-use plan,” he said.

According to the Transport Ministry Road Accidents Statistics Book 2022, fatalities involving motorcyclists were at 67.45% followed by car drivers and passengers (17.91%), pedestrians (4.84%), lorry drivers (2.94%) and four-wheel drivers (2.07%).