BERNAMA | January 30, 2009 18:06 PM

Survivor Programme For Motorcyclists

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- A programme will soon be organised to impart safety and survivor skills to motorcyclists who had ceased riding due to last year's hike in fuel price, but want to ride again.

The Rider Survivor's Programme -- to be jointly organised by the Road Safety Department (JKJR) and Road Safety Marshall Club (RSMC) -- is expected to kick-off next month.

The one-day programme will include CPR lessons and emphasise on practical training, as well.

RSMC president K. Balasupramaniam said due to the increase in fuel price last year, many motorcylists had stopped riding.

As they wanted to ride the machines again, he said, they had requested the club to organise a programme or a short course on how to take to the roads, albeit in a safe manner.

"We plan to start the programme, latest by March, and hope the industry would be kind enough to donate motorcycles for this purpose," he said after the Road Safety Advocation Campaign here Friday.

Meanwhile, JKJR director-general Datuk Suret Singh said JKJR would convene a meeting next month with helmet manufacturers and non-governmental organisations to discuss how to stop the production and sale of helmets which did not adhere to SIRIM standards.

He said according to last year's statistics, 3,898 cases or 60 per cent of deaths in road accidents involved motorcyclists and therefore, JKJR would continue to strengthen its road safety advocation campaign, particularly in educating motorcyclists.