PSA: Highway Emergency Lanes Aren’t Exclusive to Motorcyclists

In light of the recent viral motorcycle-related accidents, the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) has put up a reminder for motorcyclists that the emergency lane on highways is not their exclusive right, and riders must always stay alert and aware of their surroundings when riding on them.

“A reminder to all highway users! The emergency lane is not the exclusive right of motorcyclists. It is also used by other vehicles to stop in case of a breakdown or emergency on the highway. Motorcyclists must always be alert and focused for the safety of all,” said LLM in its official Facebook post.

According to LLM, there has been an increase of deadly accidents occurring on highway emergency lanes from 2022 to 2023

Said Facebook post is accompanied by a short video featuring some key infographics related to accidents occurring on highway emergency lanes. For instance, LLM has recorded a total of 235 death accidents occurring on the emergency lane in 2023 alone, a 10.32% increase over the previous year’s figure of 213. 

This reminder follows several viral accidents involving motorcycles and the highway emergency lane, with one of them involving an angry biker who lashed out at cars driving in the emergency lane. Unbeknownst to the rider, said car was driving in the Smartlane-enabled zone of the PLUS highway, where the emergency lane is converted into a temporary extra lane for the highway for a certain period of time and distance.

Besides Smartlanes, the emergency lane on highways, as its name suggests, is meant to be used in emergency situations. Oftentimes, you’ll find many broken down vehicles stopped by the lane, while emergency vehicles like ambulances, police patrol cars, and fire trucks use them to get ahead of the traffic buildup on the main highway lanes.

With that being said, it is utmost important for motorcyclists to acknowledge that emergency lanes are not the same thing as dedicated motorcycle lanes, as they are intended for emergency situations first and foremost. Besides staying alert and aware of any impending vehicles or obstructions along the lane, bikers must also keep in mind the Smartlane implementation on certain sections of the highway in order to avoid any further incidents from occurring.