The number of fatalities in accidents involving heavy motorbikes has increased 177 percent over the past four years, primarily because of speeding, Ministry of Transportation and Communications statistics released yesterday show.
The statistics show that there were 13 deaths related to heavy motorbike accidents in 2011, but that number jumped to 36 last year.
Over the four years, the number of big bikes — defined as those with an engine size of 250cc or larger — increased from 30,410 to 89,042, ministry data showed.
The ministry said an analysis found that most of the accident deaths involving heavy motorbikes had occurred as a result of the riders speeding and losing control.
Another major reason for the sharp increase in such fatalities was the riders’ failure to observe traffic regulations and road signs, the ministry said.
Its data indicated that the number of traffic violations involving speeding by big bike riders jumped 39.54 percent year-on-year in the first three months of the year to 9,645.
Many of the people who own heavy motorbikes really do not know how to ride them, the ministry said.
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