Public transport a safer option than motorcycles

I refer to the letter “Transport minister should push for more motorcycle use” (Aug 15). While a motorcycle offers better accessibility to various locations and the cost of owning one is the lowest among the various vehicles, riding a motorcycle is, unfortunately, the worst mode of transport in terms of the ratio of road accidents in which these road users are involved, in Singapore and around the world.

It has almost become a proverb that the question is not whether, but when, a motorcyclist will get into an accident.

A survey in Singapore from last year found that almost three in four motorcyclists in Singapore had met with an accident. About 70 per cent of them acknowledged that they were at fault in the accidents.

These facts highlight that inherent elements in riding make motorcyclists prone to accidents, no matter how trained or careful they are.

There is another way of looking at the statistics. Singapore has almost a million motor vehicles on the road, of which motorcycles comprise only about 15 per cent. But relative to their quantity, motorcycles are involved in the majority of accidents and fatalities.

I would advocate the use of public transport instead. When the Government encourages the use of public transport, it naturally assumes the responsibility for making buses and trains suffer fewer breakdowns, provide more convenience, deliver low cost per unit distance travelled, and, of course, offer better safety.

By taking public transport, people also contribute directly to reducing carbon emissions, hence making our environment cleaner.