MORE thought should be given to the move to reduce the speed limit to 30kph in Kuala Lumpur  to make the capital more pedestrian-friendly, experts said.

Such a move could lead to severe congestion in and around the city, they said.

They noted accidents predominantly occur due to reckless drivers, not speeding.

Others said until designated motorcycle lanes are built in the city, road accidents will not be reduced.

Associate Prof Dr Law Teik Hua from the Road Safety Research Centre at University Putra Malaysia said reducing the speed limit without proper consideration will lead to traffic jams.

“Driving at 30kph is equivalent to the speed you use in a parking lot.

“The impact at this speed will leave pedestrians relatively unscathed but is not practical on a busy road,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Law said before indiscriminately reducing the speed limit, the authorities first have to determine what are the common causes of accidents.

“First they need to find out if there is a flaw in the road design. If there is a design flaw where speeding leads to more accidents, then this measure is appropriate.”

While there are places such as schools, hospitals and malls where the speed limit must be reduced, there is no need for it to be reduced to 30kph.

“It has to depend on the location and situation. We can’t just have a blanket rule.”

Law also questioned how the government will ensure the sustainability of the reduced speed limit.

“On many roads, drivers are used to driving at 70kph or 80kph. When they suddenly have to drive at 30kph, they will not be used to it and may not adhere to it.

“You cannot possibly station police at every road to ensure adherence. It may be better to zone areas where the speed limit is reduced.

“If the wrong measure is implemented, it will have a big impact on traffic.”

The fatality rate of motorcycle accidents stood at 70.2% last year, a new record and an increase of 8.2% from the previous year.

Wee Hong, chairman of the Malaysian Motorcycle and Scooter Dealers Association and Chen Kim Hock, chairman of the Motorcycle and Scooter Traders Association of Johor both said reducing the speed limit is a bad idea.

They said accidents happen because of reckless drivers, not the speed limit.

“The speed is a small factor. Drivers must be taught road safety such as motorcycles, they should only keep to the left and not zig zag around.”

Wee proposed designated motorcycle lanes as a possible solution.

“Buses have their own lanes so why not motorcycles? This will help solve the problem.”

Chen said as long as cars and motorcycles share the roads, accidents are inevitable.

“If a rider falls off his bike on a busy road, he may subsequently get run over by a larger vehicle which may lead to death. A motorcycle lane can prevent this.”

The current speed limit is appropriate, Chen said.

People are also need to be more conscious on the road, he added.

“Drivers must be more careful on the road. Keep a safe distance, don’t drive under the influence.”

Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said the ministry has not had discussions with stakeholders with regard to reducing the speed limit.

 Wee said there are many factors to consider for road safety.

The Malaysian Institute of Road Traffic Safety (Miros) is in the final stages of finalising the proposal for a standard 30kph speed limit for urban and residential areas, cities and villages as part of the national road safety plan for 2022-2030.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) decision to improve road safety is in line with the call made by World Health Organization director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for governments around the world to urgently adopt the 30kph speed limit for cities.

Malaysia is one of the countries that ratified the Stockholm Declaration on road safety, with 18 resolutions, at a global ministerial conference in February 2020.

The 80 ministers at the conference made a pledge to halve the number of road deaths by 2030 and proposed the speed limit of 30kph as “the new norm” in areas where motorcyclists, car drivers, pedestrians and cyclists are the common road users. –, January 31, 2022.