Loke: No decision yet on proposal
KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry has yet to make a decision on the proposal to limit motorcyclists to the left lane.
Its minister, Anthony Loke, said although the ministry welcomed any suggestion that could reduce road fatalities among motorcyclists, the practicality was more crucial.
“We can agree to such a suggestion, but we must also look at its practicality and how the enforcement will be done,” he said after officiating at the 8TV CNY Grand Bazaar in Bukit Jalil here.
Loke was commenting on a news report that the Road Safety Department was studying a proposal to limit motorcyclists to the left lane to reduce the fatality rate among users.
Loke said motorcyclists were allowed to use the left lane. However, the enforcement was not effective.
“Right now, motorcyclists are not using just the left lane, but also the middle and right lanes, which endangers themselves and other road users.
“Therefore, we must see how we can tighten enforcement, too.
“To reduce the fatality rate, we must reduce the accident cases involving motorcycles,” he said.
Based on last year’s statistics, more than 60 per cent of the 6,742 accident death cases involved motorcycle riders and pillion riders.