Experts have commended the government’s proposal to build dedicated motorcycle lanes on future highways but say they must be designed to allow for higher usage.
Road safety consultant Karen Goonting says the current motorcycle lanes on the Federal Highway are too narrow.
“The average motorcycle typically travels at speeds between 72 kph and 80kph.
“A 2005 study suggested that given the higher-than-average speed of motorcycles, a dedicated motorcycle lane should be around 3.81m wide, instead of the present 2m.
“The current 2m lanes are not conducive to safe overtaking, especially for larger motorcycles,” she told FMT.
Goonting said increasing the usage of dedicated motorcycle lanes would also reduce the number of accidents involving motorcyclists. She said studies conducted in 1994 and 1995 found that the accident rate on the Federal Highway had been reduced by between 25% and 34%.
“This removes motorcycles from the larger traffic flow of heavy commercial and private vehicles,” she said, adding it would also help address the problem of traffic congestion.
Last month, theSun reported that between 2019 and 2023, a total of 829 motorcycle accidents occurred on three major highways – the Federal Highway, the Shah Alam Expressway and the Guthrie Corridor Expressway – all of which have dedicated motorcycle lanes.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported the works ministry as saying it is exploring the inclusion of dedicated motorcycle lanes in new highway projects, as part of a long-term strategy to improve the safety and welfare of motorcyclists.
Goonting advised the government to look into shortening the travel distance on future motorcycle lanes.
“For example, the dedicated motorcycle lanes in Putrajaya are longer than the roads for other vehicles. Motorcyclists, many of whom are from lower-income groups, find this to be a burden, as it increases their travel times,” she said.
Law Teik Hua, a road safety expert at Universiti Putra Malaysia, said motorcycle lanes need to be safe, well-maintained and well-lit, adding riders will not use them if they feel they are more dangerous than the main roads.
“Some riders have reported issues such as sharp corners, narrow lanes and sudden obstacles like debris, wires, potholes and oil spills.
“Others have experienced safety threats like robbery or ambushes, especially in isolated stretches or underpasses,” he said.
Law said while enforcement plays a role in increasing the usage of dedicated motorcycle lanes, education and engagement with motorcyclists are just as important.
He said motorcyclists should be made aware of the safety benefits of such lanes and legal requirements through campaigns, signage and community outreach programmes by government agencies and road safety advocacy groups.
