SEPANG: Kawasaki Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd (KMSB) is doing its part to enhance the safety of motorcyclists by introducing its first-ever safety course for its customers.
KMSB unveiled on Dec 20 its inaugural course for 10 selected buyers of its motorcycles at the Sepang International Kart Circuit. What makes this significant is that KMSB is using Malaysian trainers who have been trained by some of the best instructors from Japan, a move supported by its principal, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.
“This programme is the first-ever to be organised by KMSB in collaboration with our principal, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI), and K-TEC Corporation of Japan, to provide opportunity for Kawasaki owners to be exposed to the aspect of safety and responsible riding in theory and practice,” said Ahmad Faez Tan Sri Yahaya, KMSB’s executive chairman.
Ahmad Faez said the programme is aimed at raising awareness on safety and responsible riding to motorcycle users when they are on the road. “We believe this course will contribute to the increase in awareness on safety and the effort to reduce road accidents involving motorcycles.
“This is in line with the government and related agencies’ efforts to reduce road accidents, in which the majority of casualties are motorcyclists. It will enhance riders’ knowledge, focus and confidence in handling bikes and with positive attitude when dealing with traffic,” he said.
Citing statistics on Malaysia’s road accidents, he said records from 2007 to 2016 showed that there were 73,954 fatalities from road accidents, of which 63% (40,609) are motorcycle users.
This is where KMSB hopes that the Kawasaki Safety & Responsibility Riding (KSRR) could would make a difference.
“Research has shown that the most common traffic offences by riders are speeding, disobeying traffic lights, queue jumping, using cellphones while riding, overtaking at unsafe spots, and riding on the emergency lane. Based on this, we can say that the low awareness on safety, and poor attitude, are the most common cause of road accidents,” said Ahmad Faez.
Among those present at the event were Hideto Yoshitake, general manager of quality assurance for KHI, Hiroyuki Saito, president of K-TEC Corporation Japan, Yoshiro Segawa, managing director for K-TEC, Prof Datuk Mohamad Dalib, director of the Road Transport Department’s automotive engineering division, Wee Hong, chairman of the Malaysia Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association, and Datuk Jeffrey Lim, KMSB director and general manager.
