KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of motorcycle e-hailing service, Gojek should be carefully studied especially from safety aspect due to the high risk of riding motorcycles. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Safe Kids Malaysia executive director Associate Prof Dr Kulanthayan KC Mani said risks associated with riding motorcycles is relatively much higher compared with other vehicles.
“Based on the basic structure of having two wheels, it is less stable and more difficult to control in dangerous situations,” he said when appearing as a guest in Upsound, a Bernama News Channel (Astro 502) programme. In fact he said such road users should use an additional layer of protection which is absent in motorcycles, causing riders to suffer graver injuries in accidents.
“For example, the impact of any accident goes directly to both the driver and pillion rider,” he said. According to Dr Kulanthayan, police statistics in 2018 showed almost 550,000 accidents were recorded involving 6,824 deaths. From the figure he said 65 percent of deaths involved motorcyclists and pillion riders compared to other types of vehicles. – Bernama