Govt urged to set up motorcycle workshops along highways

PN’s Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said many vehicles, especially motorcycles, are difficult to repair when they break down on the road.

PETALING JAYA: The government has been urged to establish workshops and vehicle repair services at every toll plaza or rest and service area (R&R) to assist road users, particularly motorcyclists who face breakdowns on highways.

Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN-Alor Setar) said many motorcyclists encounter difficulties when their motorcycles break down during travel, and often have to seek help at the highway which can be time-consuming and hazardous.

“We have observed that many vehicles, especially motorcycles, are difficult to repair when they break down on the road.

“Finding a repair shop is often difficult. Even though there are highway patrol services, it would be faster if there were mobile mechanics who could carry out repairs, or workshops strategically located at R&R stops,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Afnan also said the “smart lane” system which converts emergency lanes into vehicle lanes during peak hours causes confusion and increases the risk of accidents for motorcyclists.

He said motorcyclists typically use the left and emergency lanes to navigate congested traffic.

“When the ‘smart lane’ is activated, the emergency lane cannot be used. Riders are forced to weave through dense traffic, increasing the risk of accidents,” he said.

He also criticised the condition of emergency lanes, describing them as narrow, slippery, and littered with tyre debris and stones, with white lane markings that become slick in the rain.

Afnan said motorcyclists make up the largest group of highway users and pay road taxes like other motorists, and that their safety should be seriously considered in national infrastructure planning.