PETALING JAYA: Poor road maintenance, criminal activities and narrow lanes have been cited by motorcyclists as reasons for avoiding motorcycle lanes.
Many choose to continue riding on main roads and major highways although this is more dangerous.
According to police statistics, 6,443 deaths last year were from road accidents and 4,880 or 75% of these cases involved motorcyclists.
Moreover, the Transport Ministry found that nearly 60% of road accidents between 2010 and 2019 involved motorcyclists.
However, earlier studies conducted by Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research's (Miros) showed that there was a 39% reduction in crashes with the implementation of motorcycle lanes.
The same studies also showed that utilisation rates remained low because of poor infrastructure conditions and safety threats.
StarMetro delved deeper into the issue and asked motorcyclists why some are reluctant to use the dedicated lanes.
University student Mikhail Ramses Dawson, 21, finds that the motorcycle lanes are quite narrow, leaving him little time to react in an emergency.
"If there is an obstruction, there won’t be enough time to dodge and this will increase the collision risk.
Another motorcyclist Emyrull Iman Azami, 25, who travels regularly on the Federal Highway, echoed similar sentiments.
“It is difficult to manoeuvre during peak hours as these lanes tend to be congested then,” he said.
He added that a stretch on the Federal Highway, from Petaling Jaya heading towards Klang was slippery because of moss growing on the side of the road.
"The stretch near Subang Jaya Medical Centre is also prone to flooding," he added.
Muhd Shafiq Che Saufi, 31, who uses the motorcycle lane between Klang and Shah Alam along the Federal Highway daily, was concerned about faulty streetlamps.
“Because it is dark, I will not use the motorcycle lane at night.
“Motorcycle lanes ensure our safety against heavy vehicles, but if the lanes are not properly maintained, it can become a safety risk," he said.
He recalled seeing a huge cobra at a lane near Sungai Rasau in Klang. Muhd Shafiq felt the lanes also left motorcyclists vulnerable to crime.
“My father's friend became a victim of armed robbery in 2015.
"My father usually rode with his friend to work, but fell sick on the day of the robbery.
"The story scared me off the lanes and I would reconsider several times before deciding to use the route," he said, adding that more smart lamps or solar-powered lamps could be installed along these lanes.
Zulfiqar Zamir, 25, expressed worry over the exit points of motorcycle lanes, which he said were placed at unsuitable angles.
“It can be quite dangerous during peak hours when many motorcyclists converge on an exit and hastily merge into the main road,” he said.
Zulfiqar added that those riding without a licence would also tend to avoid motorcycle lanes because of frequent roadblocks.
During checks at motorcycle lanes along several highways, StarMetro found untrimmed plants, uneven surface and stagnant water.
At Federal Highway, the lane was mostly in good condition, save for a few stagnant water spots near UOA Business Park in Shah Alam.
There were also signs to indicate flood-prone spots, namely tunnel 3 (KM15, Klang-bound) and tunnel 17 (Kuala Lumpur-bound).
At the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), overgrown plants can be seen jutting out from the roadside at some stretches of the lanes along the underpasses from Bukit Jelutong heading towards Rawang.
Also spotted along the lanes were discarded household items and damaged motorcycle parts.
Several sections of the lane appeared to be under repair.
Overgrowth and moss threatened to invade the motorcycle lane at Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), especially near the Kinrara rest area heading towards Kuala Lumpur.
The lane here was also quite narrow along the stretch near Jalan Puchong, making it difficult for motorcyclists to manoeuvre safely.
According to the police, the use of motorcycle lanes is compulsory.
“Motorcyclists must use the motorcycle lanes if there is one,” Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri told StarMetro.
"However, we prefer to remind motorcyclists instead of issuing them summonses.
This approach, he said, was to account for motorists who might be unfamiliar with the highway or unaware of the motorcycle lane there.
“They may come from other areas, such as outside Klang Valley, and may be using the highway for the first time.
“However, motorcyclists are reminded to be alert and heed the signboards placed along the road,” he said.
The police have taken action against errant individuals for not using the motorcycle lanes.
For example, an operation held in January 2022 saw 220 summonses issued by the police on Federal Highway, based on media reports.
Another operation in August the same year at the GCE saw 110 summonses given out to errant motorcyclists.
Those who fail to use designated motorcycle lanes can be charged under Section 79(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) – disregarding traffic signs.
It says any pedestrian or driver who fails or neglects to comply with any lawfully placed traffic signs is guilty of an offence and, upon conviction, may be fined not less than RM300 and not more than RM2,000.
According to police statistics, between 2019 and 2023, a total of 829 road accidents occurred on three major highways with motorcycle lanes.
Mohd Yusri said motorcyclists were only allowed to use regular lanes if there were no motorcycle lanes provided.
He highlighted that the police regularly patrolled these lanes to ensure they were safe to use.
Although there have been reports of crimes such as robbery at motorcycle lanes, he said these incidents were isolated.
Data from 2019 to 2023 at the three major highways — Federal, Kesas and Guthrie — found no more than two cases reported each year.
Relating further, Mohd Yusri said developers regularly sought input from the police prior to constructing highways.
“We always advise them to build motorcycle lanes, especially for projects in big cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Penang.
“This is crucial, as motorcyclists are at higher risks of accidents due to their smaller vehicles,” he said.
Mohd Yusri also called on concessionaires to ensure motorists were informed about the existence of motorcycle lanes on the highways under their management.
“Place signage at toll booths and along the road shoulders so that road users are aware,” he added.
Asked to comment on claims of these lanes being poorly maintained, Mohd Yusri urged the public to file complaints with the police or highway concessionaire.
“Take note of the location and snap photos of the faulty spot and the police will forward the complaint to the concessionaire.
“Road users may also contact the concessionaire via their hotlines,” he said.
