Adopt proactive approach to protect our young cyclists

THE accident that killed eight teenage boys who were riding mosquito bikes in Johor Baru on Saturday has led to a reactive approach from various parties. Some quarters have also pressed for the victims’ families to be charged with negligence under the Child Act 2001.

While expressing our condolences to the families involved, we should also look at the socio-economic factor that caused this incident, including the reason why such groups exist.

Finger-pointing will not solve the problem but we must learn from the tragedy to prevent its recurrence. And this will only be possible if everyone exercises his or her responsibility to ensure the safety of our children at all times.

I believe we should have a holistic solution to tackle this issue, apart from enforcing the existing law at all levels.

We should not ban teenagers from cycling as it is a healthy activity that could also prevent them from becoming involved in social ills such as drug addiction.

However, their cycling activities must be strictly supervised and they must be made to comply with safety requirements.

Therefore, to prevent the recurrence of such a tragic bicycle incident, I would like to make the following suggestions:

1. The authorities should improve the road safety aspect for cyclists by making it compulsory for them to wear safety helmet and install bea- con lights on their bicycles;

2. Young cyclists must be given proper guidelines and assistance to carry on with their activities;

3. Proper signage should be installed on streets that have designated bicycle lanes, and safety barriers must be used to mark bicycle zones;

4. Federal and state governments should build special venues for bicycle enthusiasts and more cycling competitions should be held;

5. More activities and competitions should be organised for youths, including local E-Sport or virtual sport competition. Such activities should suit their needs rather than the stakeholders;

6. Enforce the rule of road safety hierarchy where the most vulnerable road users should be cared for and protected. This will ensure that drivers of bigger vehicles will be more considerate towards those who ride a motorcycle or bicycle and also pedestrians; and

7. A safety system should be installed to create a warning system for road users. For example, sensors can be installed at highrisk zones to warn motorists of other road users, especially cyclists and pedestrians.

As for enforcement, I hope the police and local authorities could monitor the areas frequented by the young cyclists and arrest those who stay there late into the night.

Parents must be compelled to fetch their children after attending a counselling session with them at the police station or Welfare Department.

Repeat offenders should be sentenced to do community work and their bicycles should be confiscated.

I hope the authorities will take a holistic approach to prevent such incidents from happening again. We cannot lose more innocent lives due to our slow reactive approach. We must inculcate a preventive culture rather than reactive approach, where those responsible will only take action when a mishap has occurred. By that time, it would already be too late as innocent lives would have been lost. TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE Kuala Lumpur