Proposals to make cycling safer

Participants of cycling activities must be compelled to wear helmets and to have lights and reflectors on their bicycles to make cycling safer.

At the same time, federal and state governments should build a special area and organise more competitions for cycling enthusiasts.

These are among the proposals made by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye following the recent cycling tragedy which killed eight teenage cyclists in Johor.

In a statement Wednesday, Lee also suggested that a cycling zone should have its own safety border.

He said guidelines and assistance should be given to young cyclists so that they could engage themselves in such activities safely.

Lee said a rule known as road safety hierarchy should be enforced to protect the group with highest risk and to ensure road users would be more aware of motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.

"We should not stop young people from cycling because it is a healthy recreational activity capable of keeping them away from social problems like drug addiction.

"However, cycling activities should be subject to close monitoring and comply with safety requirements," he said.

Eight boys were killed, while eight others injured, after being knocked down by a car while cycling along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, Johor Bahru, at 3.30 am on Saturday. - Bernama