By YS Chan
Dego Ride chief executive officer Nabil Feisal Bamadhaj has done the right thing by issuing an order to about 6,000 Dego Ride riders to cease their ride-hailing operations, more so with the Cabinet supporting the transport ministry’s ban.
For that, Dego Ride has done better than e-hailing services, such as Uber that has been in operations illegally since late 2013, until they are regulated next month.
Dego Ride will submit a proposal to the government seeking approval for its motorcycle ride-hailing service.
Apart from allowing the bottom 40% (B40) income group supplying and enjoying most of the motorcycle taxi service, Nabil can also contribute to the nation by showing Dego riders are exemplary motorcyclists.
Their motorcycles or crash helmets can be fitted with video cameras in front and and at the rear to record the transgressions of other vehicles, including motorcycles.
The recordings can be forwarded to the road transport department (RTD), if it is keen to act and make our roads a much safer place. Dego riders can be paid for offences captured on camera that warrant summonses to be issued.
In this way, many motorists and motorcyclists would be at their best behaviour upon spotting a Dego rider in front or behind. Needless to say, Dego riders will be forced to ride safely and not zip around like pizza delivery boys.
It takes compassion to make good use of available technology. Treating all motorcyclists with contempt will just be continuing with the status quo. With more Dego riders around, there would be fewer incidents of snatch thefts.
Just as a coin has two sides, we can choose to look at the positive or negative. If we wish to ban this motorcycle “taxi” service, we can just as well find many reasons to justify it.
But if we wish to allow it, we can set the rules and regulations to make it as safe as anyone ridding pillion today, if not safer.
Had the authorities accepted my proposal on privatising surveillance, which I had been advocating since 2003, our roads would have been a much safer place.
In 2003, there were 6,286 deaths caused by road accidents, reaching 6,706 in 2015. Last year, it shot up to 7,152 from the 521,466 road accidents reported nationwide.
Clearly, all the campaigns and initiatives conducted were ineffective, and dishing out more of the same will only see the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities continue to rise.
The enforcement agencies should enlist the public’s help for surveillance, as buses, taxis and Dego Ride motorcycles can be fitted with cameras to deter motorists and motorcyclists from committing traffic offences, including dangerous driving and riding.
The status quo is not an option.
YS Chan is an FMT reader.
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