One death every two hours

Seized bikes: Lokman showing some of the motorcycles loaded onto the police van.

JPJ: Close to 70% of all fatal accidents involved motorcycles

JOHOR BARU: One motorcyclist or pillion rider is killed in an accident every two hours in Malaysia, with close to 70% of all fatal accidents involving motorcycles, according to the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

Its senior enforcement director Datuk Lokman Jamaan said last year alone, there were 4,000 deaths involving motorcycles, which was higher compared with 2022.

“This shows just how serious the problem is. We hope road users, especially motorcyclists, are aware of the figures and take precautions to avoid tragedies,” he said.

Lokman was speaking to reporters after a special operation in conjunction with Chinese New Year and the holiday season at the Skudai toll plaza here on Wednesday night.

He said the special operation, which started on Feb 1, was part of the department’s effort to reduce accidents and deaths from such tragedies.

“We have inspected 768,276 vehicles in a nationwide operation and issued a total of 165,553 summonses for various offences.

“About 26% of the offences – or 42,505 summonses – issued were for driving or riding motorcycles without a licence.

“We also issued 17,762 summonses to foreigners for various traffic violations, including driving lorries without a licence,” he said.

Lokman added that 6,413 vehicles – 5,180 of which were motorcycles – were also seized during the operation.

“A total of 33 people were also caught for substance abuse as they tested positive in urine tests,” he said.

Lokman said stern action would also be taken against parents allowing underage children to drive, following an incident where a 13-year-old boy was caught driving a car without a licence at a playground in Taman Daya.