Motorcycle positioning in queues at signalized intersections in city of Klang Valley

For the past years, motorcycle fatalities have risen in Klang Valley with the overall constitution had passed 60% of total road traffic accident (RTA). Many motorcycle fatalities occurred within intersections after a driver failed to see a motorcyclist. However, little is known about the behavior of motorcyclists when they negotiate an intersection. This study was undertaken to analyze the behavior of motorcyclist in queues at signalized 3-leg and 4-leg intersections along state road of Klang Valley. An observational data was gathered based on microscopic data collected from video images that were taken from a research vehicle instrumented with on-board video camera. The research vehicle made routine trip through out Klang Valley for 10 weeks during peak and off-peak hour period. Twenty-seven (27) intersections with traffic light captured by the research vehicle were selected and observed. The preliminary findings shown three-ways of motorcycle approached the signalized intersection (SI), i.e. (1) approaching the SI with Weaving/Lane Splitting, (2) approaching the SI from center of the lane, and (3) approaching the SI from the left side/the shoulder. 87% of the motorcycle tend to maneuver in a queue during a red-light period, to avoid obstruction and tend to move forward for a wide and clear field of vision closest to the stop line. It is recommended that an exclusive motorcycle stopping space is provided for motorcyclist to enhance motorcycling safety and road safety in the country

Turn signal use among motorcyclists in Klang Valley, Malaysia: a case study

Road crashes are serious concerns globally as they claim and cause more than 1.35 million fatalities and up to 50 million resulted injuries each year, respectively. Previous studies showed that the causes of road crashes are multifactorial, with human error contributed to approximately more than two-thirds of all road crashes, particularly in developing countries. One of the primary causes of vehicle crashes is failure to use turn signals by motorists. Although several studies have explored the use of turn signal among motorists in developed countries, limited studies have examined such risky behavior in developing countries, especially Malaysia. This paper aims to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of turn signal use among motorcyclists especially when changing lanes and turning at intersections, in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Video data of motorcycles in road traffic were recorded via instrumented research vehicle which made routine trips along selected driving routes in Klang Valley. The driving routes encompassed expressway, mixed with urban and interurban roads, as well as rural roads. The results reveal a significantly low overall percentage usage rate of turn signal among the observed motorcyclists at 41.1%. Furthermore, 60.9% of motorcyclists failed to signal when changing lanes, and 56.5% disregarded them while turning at intersections. The findings provide vital information to the authority to develop proper policy and propose measures to increase compliance of turn signal use among motorcycle motorcyclists such as more targeted enforcement, widespread road safety campaigns and mandated utilization of technology-based solutions