MOTORCYCLISTS might be safer on the roads if they wear reflective, high-visibility vests while riding.

The Singapore Road Safety Council, a non-profit organisation launched yesterday, will do research to see whether what motorcyclists wear can make a difference.

Chairman Bernard Tay said motorcyclists often find themselves in a dangerous position as their vehicles are smaller than others. Apart from the size disadvantage, motorcycles are also harder to spot at night.

Mr Tay, who is also president of the Automobile Association of Singapore, said that raising the visibility of motorcyclists through the use of reflective attire would help other road users spot them more quickly and easily.

He added that research in other countries had highlighted the merits of motorists wearing high-visibility vests.

Over the years, motorcyclists and pillion riders have been the most vulnerable group of road users. They made up 48.4 per cent of all road fatalities last year and 48.9 per cent in 2008. The new council, comprising members from the transport-related and corporate sectors, was set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs, supported by the Ministry of Transport, the Land Transport Authority and other road safety-related stakeholders.

It will be the official body for Singapore to engage with other international road safety councils and programmes to contribute to global road safety and also serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas on road safety.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

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