August 17, 2024
In recent days, Malaysian media outlets and law enforcement authorities have been inundated with reports of motorcycle accidents, highlighting a growing concern over road safety. Despite the repeated warnings and the alarming number of cases, tragedy struck again last night when two 13-year-old youths lost their lives in a devastating motorcycle stunt incident. Selangor's Sungai Buloh district police chief, Mohamad Hafiz, issued a statement today (16th), revealing that the two young riders died in a collision while participating in an illegal street racing event at 11:20 PM on the 15th along Jalan Elmina Business Park in Sungai Buloh.
“Investigations showed that both riders were attempting motorcycle stunts when they collided head-on, resulting in their instant deaths.” Road fatalities in the first eight months of this year have already surpassed the total for the entire previous year. Hafiz highlighted a worrying increase in fatal accidents involving illegal racing and speeding in the Sungai Buloh area.“ Last year, there were three fatal accidents, claiming three lives. However, between January and August this year, seven fatal accidents have occurred, resulting in 11 deaths.” Hafiz urged parents to closely monitor their children's activities, particularly during the night.“ Parents must strictly forbid their children from engaging in illegal racing. It not only endangers their lives but also poses a threat to other road users.” He further emphasized that underage riders, along with their parents or guardians, could face legal action under Section 39 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for underage driving. Additionally, parents could be prosecuted under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglect or abuse, leading to the child being exposed to danger.
Relevant Info
Restriction on driving by young persons- 39. (1) No person under sixteen years of age shall drive a motor vehicle on a road.
Ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure of children-31. any person who, being a person having the care of a child—(a) abuses, neglects, abandons or exposes the child in a manner likely to cause him physical or emotional injury or causes or permits him to be so abused, neglected, abandoned or exposed.