JPJ Reminds Road Users That Even Motorcyclists Are Not Allowed To Use The Emergency Lane
Offenders can be charged under Section 53 of the Road Transport Act 1957.
By Tang Ruxyn — 06 Sep 2017, 02:19 PM
Recently, comments from a netizen regarding the use of emergency lane have gone viral on social media
Screenshots of two Facebook comments by an individual who said that the emergency lane is not exclusive to motorcyclists and allegedly supported for vehicles such as cars to use the emergency lane have been circulating on social media in the last few days.
"Itu lorong kecemasan, bukan lorong motosikal. Motor tak ada hak nak marah kereta," read the first comment. (That's an emergency lane, not a motorcycle lane. Motorcyclists do not have the right to get mad at car drivers.)
In the second comment, the man said, "Tak muncul lagi signboard (papan tanda) dilarang melalui lorong kecemasan." (There is no signboard that indicates that the usage of emergency lanes is being banned.)
mStar reported that comments are believed to have links with a video on social media that depicts a car using the emergency lane and almost hit on a motorcyclist that was riding on the same lane.
The comments have since started conversations on whether motorcyclists are "entitled" to use the emergency lane
Quite a number of netizens have claimed that they are motorcyclists who have been using the emergency lane and that the "police did not issue any summons or stop them" from using it when riding on a motorcycle.
"Motorcycles are given leeway. Those of you who drive a car, do not simply comment," one of the comments read.
Several people also questioned which lane motorcyclists could use if they are not allowed to use the emergency lane.
They argued that motorcycles could easily give way to the ambulance or police in the event of emergency but cars would not be able to do that, especially when there is a traffic congestion.
The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has since clarified that the emergency lane cannot be occupied even by motorcycles
In a report by mStar yesterday, 5 September, its deputy director-general (management) Datuk Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman has stressed that the emergency lanes are only meant to be used by the authorities in the event of an emergency.
In line with this, the restriction is also imposed on motorcyclists.
"Any vehicle including motorcycles is not allowed to use the emergency lane," he was quoted as saying.
Wan Ahmad Uzir also reminded the public that traffic offenders could be penalised
Driving on the emergency lane is an offence under Rule 53 (1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959.
According to Wan Ahmad Uzir, road users who are found to have used the emergency lane can be charged in the court under the Road Transport Act 1987.
"Those who are convicted could face a maximum fine of RM2,000 or imprisonment of up to six months, or both," he told mStar.