EARLY on New Year’s Day police conducted an operation at Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in Penang against errant motorists. The reported number of motorcyclists hauled up to Bayan Lepas police station was in the hundreds.
The police did a good job but catching road users breaking traffic rules is not enough. Police keep catching errant motorcyclists but more keep appearing. The authorities need to put a stop to errant motorcyclists once and for all.
All around the world there are activities that involve groups of motorcyclists. For instance there are motorcycle racing and motorcycle clubs. While these activities are not part of our culture and are a waste of resources with adverse environmental impact, the individuals or groups involved do not make a nuisance or pose a danger to the public.
Young motorcyclists exhibiting reckless behaviour is something else. Their behaviour endangers themselves and other road users. This is unacceptable.
To curb the unsafe road culture the authorities should blacklist errant motorcyclists and suspend the licences of repeat offenders. Some may argue that this is useless since many young motorcyclists do not have licences.
Once these motorcyclists have been blacklisted they should be sent for mandatory civic rehabilitation to change their behaviour on the road.
We urge the authorities to promptly take effective measures – both preventive and corrective – against errant motorcyclists.
Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers Association of Penang
