THE Traffic Police have said they will gauge the feasibility of banning new bikers from carrying pillion riders until they chalk up more riding experience.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, they did not, however, say when they would decide on this.

Driving schools already teach riders how to ride with passengers, but some bikers have suggested going further, such as banning new riders from taking on pillion riders until they have held their licences for a year.

Mr Tony Yeo, general secretary of the Singapore Motor Cycle Trade Association, said he was "all for the idea".

But he pointed out that this would raise issues, such as whether new car drivers ought to be banned from ferrying passengers too, or whether new bikers should be allowed to install utility boxes on their two-wheelers.

This story was first published in The Straits Times on Feb 26, 2008.