The deputy director-general of Malaysian Road Safety Department (RSD), Roslan Eusoff, said that last year alone, 86 children below the age of 16 were killed while riding as a passenger.

Other children died while riding the motorcycle themselves, even though some were between six and 10 years old, he was reported saying in New Straits Times yesterday.

In all, a total of 262 children died in motorcycle accidents last year,

“This is on top of 156 others who were seriously injured,” the English daily reported him saying to reporters during a road safety campaign programme at Shah Alam yesterday.

“Every year, the number of children under the age of 16 killed in motorcycle accidents nationwide continues to go up despite enforcement operations carried out by government agencies.

“Many whom we met during our campaigns nationwide, when advised to practise safety, including using crash helmets, were indifferent and had this attitude where they believe that they are invincible, that accidents would only happen to others, that it wouldn’t occur to them and their families,” he said.

So the RSD has proposed to charge for child endangerment those who put their children’s life at risk.

These include parents who allow their children to ride pillion without the proper safety gear.

“Our country already has the laws, and I believe that stricter enforcement should be carried out against them,” added Roslan.

“Those who expose their children to risks when riding motorcycles should also face the music for child endangerment.”