22-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Miros: 12 motorcyclists die on roads daily
KUALA LUMPUR: A motorcyclist dies every two hours in Malaysia, a rate that road safety experts say should no longer be treated as normal.
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) Human Factors and Road User Behavioural Centre director Ir Ts Azhar Hamzah said motorcyclists continue to dominate road fatality statistics, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of all deaths.
"Just imagine 12 people die every day. Every two hours, one person dies riding a motorcycle," said Azhar during the Allianz Malaysia Media Forum held at Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral on Tuesday.
He said many of these deaths were preventable if the country took proactive steps in education, training and behaviour change.
"The best safety for motorcyclists is prevention. You cannot rely only on post-incident measures. The best is prevention," he said.
Azhar said motorcycles were originally intended for short-distance travel but have evolved into a primary means of transport across long distances in Malaysia, despite their limitations.
"A motorcycle is unstable. It only becomes stable if it's moving at least 8km per hour. The engine and wheels help balance the forces to keep it upright. The faster it moves, the more stable it becomes, but that doesn't mean it should be ridden fast," he said.
He described the physical vulnerability of riders as a major concern.
"Other than the handlebars, it's just your body. When you ride, your legs are the most exposed. Your head is the highest point. That's why it needs protection," he said.
Azhar said Malaysia's road culture has normalised risky behaviours such as weaving through traffic and speeding, adding that such actions remain a legal grey area under current road regulations.
"In Malaysia, this has become the culture. Riders move through gaps in roads to maintain stability. Whether it's right or wrong is unclear, as even the Road Transport Act is a bit vague," he said.
He said changing rider behaviour and enforcing the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) were urgent priorities.
"If we can't eliminate motorcycles, then we must control them through better roads, more stable motorcycle designs, and stronger rules," he said.
He warned that injury ratios in Malaysia were far higher than in developed countries, where the ratio might be one death to 30 serious injuries.
"In our country, that number could be one to 50. From that 50, many suffer permanent disabilities and require lifelong assistance. Not just them, but their families too," he said.
Azhar also singled out gig economy riders as being particularly vulnerable.
"P-hailing riders spend five times longer on the road compared with regular motorcycle users. So, the risk is higher," he said.
He added that slowing down was one of the fastest ways to reduce motorcycle fatalities.
"If we reduce speed, we get an immediate reward. If you ride slower, you lower your risk right away," he said.
Azhar urged government agencies, private companies and the public to act without delay.
"If you ride a motorcycle, act now. Don't wait," he said.
