RECKLESS motorcyclists and their casual attitude towards road safety were the main causes of fatal road accidents this year.

The house heard yesterday that motorcyclists accounted for 60 per cent of accidents in the first eight months of the year.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said the mindset among Malaysians was to ignore traffic laws and with more vehicles on newer and more complex highways, more accidents were likely to occur.

Replying to Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin (BN- Besut), he said several measures would be put in place to reduce the number of road deaths.

Among them is a revamp of the driving-course content to include more modules on enforcement, road engineering and safety awareness.

The revamp, which is expected to be carried out next year, will equip drivers with more skills to handle the huge volume of vehicles and complex roads.

"We also hope the Education Ministry will be able to help us teach schoolchildren how to become responsible motorists. We have to start them young."

Other efforts include using the media to raise awareness and safe-driving tips, advocacy programmes for motorcyclists and making it compulsory for all car passengers to belt up.

He said the ministry would also conduct checks on accident-prone zones and had decided to build motorcycle lanes along all federal roads in stages.

--New Straits Times