PUTRAJAYA: Due to the high number of deaths among motorcyclists and pillion riders in accidents and the traffic offences they have committed, the Government has decided to run Ops Sikal throughout the year.

Ops Sikal, which started after Ops Sikap ended on Oct 22, was targeted to reduce fatalities among motorcyclists by six a day and 1,000 a year, said Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh.

He said from Nov 8 - 22, the number of motorcyclists and pillion riders dying on the road was 103, from the 182 total deaths recorded.

Joint operations by the department, police and Road Transport Department, he said, reduced accidents to some extent but there was room for improvement.

Some 55,000 motorcyclists were caught riding their vehicles without a licence while another 9,507 were found to have expired licences in the past 10 months.

The total number of summonses issued to motorcyclists for these and various other offences stood at 253,155, according to police statistics.

“The crackdown on express buses was effective since it started in August because, from Nov 8 - Nov 22, no fatal accidents involving buses were recorded,” he said at a media briefing yesterday, which the department plans to hold regularly.

Suret Singh added that since the department started its campaign in 150 rural districts, about 90% of rural motorcyclists were wearing safety helmets.

“We will not be satisfied until we see all motorcyclists using helmets at rural areas,” he said, and reminded motorcyclists to also buckle up their helmets as 68% of 3, 693 fatalities involving motorcyclists were through head injuries.

“This applies also to cyclists, especially students,” he said, adding that he hoped to have a campaign in the future to give students bicycle helmets to create awareness.

Federal deputy traffic police chief Asst Comm O.K. Jalil Othman, who was at the briefing, said that of the 253,155 offences committed by motorcyclists from January to October, a total of 20,577 did not wear helmets.

“Those underage caught riding was 2,716, which shows improper supervision by parents,” he said, adding that another 21,916 did not have road tax and insurance while 120, 531 committed various other offences including overloading.

“Motorcyclists and pillion riders caught having drugs on them and having used them stand at 355,” he said.