Bikers without helmets, beware!

JITRA: Starting this month, the Kedah Road Transport Department (JPJ) will carry out special operations against those not wearing helmets in several areas in Kuala Muda, Kulim and Kota Setar.Its director Aman Shah Hashim said also targeted were those wearing helmets not according to specifications.

He said his department would work with other departments and agencies to deal with the attitude of motorcyclists, who have shown a lackadaisical attitude towards safety.

He said according to JPJ statistics, a total of 1,753 summonses were issued for not wearing a helmet or wearing a helmet not according to specifications in 2023, compared with 676 notices issued the year before.

“Kuala Muda, Kota Setar and Kulim will be the focus this year, but the majority of hotspots are in Kuala Muda.

“We will collaborate with the traffic police, National Anti-Drug Agency and Environment Department,” he added.

He said helmet use was not just about complying with the legal requirement, but more importantly, it could protect a motorcyclist’s head.

“Data released by the World Health Organisation shows that the correct and safe use of a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 70% and reduce the risk of death by up to 40%,” Aman Shah said.

He said this at the free helmet exchange programme in conjunction with Ambang Kedah Sejahtera 2024 at Tasik Darul Aman here on Sunday night, Bernama reported.

He said that a total of 684 helmets were distributed to the public consisting of 504 adult helmets and 180 children’s helmets.

He said not wearing a helmet or using one that didn’t meet the specifications was one of the seven main offences and a motorcyclist could be compounded up to RM300 under the Motorcycle (Safety Helmets) Rule 1973.

“There are indeed many contributing factors in road accidents, but we need to avoid wearing helmets that may be attractive and cheap, but which do not guarantee the safety of the wearer compared with the use of helmets approved by Sirim,” he said.

He also said the statistics of summonses recorded in Kedah for various offences in 2023 increased by 49.02% to 135,962 notices compared with 91,237 notices issued in 2022.