The drastic increase in public transport fares will affect the safety of road users in Malaysia as many might shift to private vehicles, especially motorcycles.
The shocking fare hike – some of which exceeded 100% of increase – would only make motorcycles and cars to be more attractive.
The motorcycle is the most dangerous form of transportation in Malaysia with annual statistics of more than 4,000 deaths a year, or 60% of total fatalities.
In Malaysia, those killed in motorcycle crashes often involved those in lower income bracket, as well as young riders aged between 16 and 25. Various transportation studies have shown that motorcycles are preferred as they not only economical but also due to convenience, especially in the cities.
Therefore, if public transport is no better than motorcycles, we will see commuters abandoning it.
While road safety experts and advocators are thinking hard to shift motorcyclists to public transportation, the fare hike seems to point to other direction.
In some cities in the world, the costs of public transportation are kept at minimum, or even offered for free as to discourage private vehicles and to promote safety, in addition to making the cities cleaner and greener.
The city of Hasselt in Belgium is a successful evidence how free transportation can bring back the city alive after implementing the policy since 1990. Last year, Tallinn, Estonia introduced free transit service for its dwellers.
The increasing usage of motor vehicles not only contribute to pollution, but the higher number of deaths and injuries may affect economic and social problems, such as families losing their breadwinners.
The injuries are also a burden for the government. Fuel consumption will definitely increase too. Therefore, it will be wise if the government can urge the public transport operators to review the fare hike.
Malaysia is only four years away from reaching 2020, and if the high road fatalities continue, it could possibly ruin our chances of achieving the developed country status.
Currently, 23 out of 100,000 people are killed on the roads in Malaysia, compared to developed countries such as Sweden with only three out of 100,000; and five or less the UK, the Netherlands, in Australia or Japan.
And all these countries have one thing in common – their cities have cheap, safe, and reliable public transportation. – December 5, 2015.
* Yusof Ghani is with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros).
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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