KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 — Motorcycle taxi or Dego Ride service has been banned from operating on the country’s roads due to factors affecting the safety of motorcyclists and pillion riders.

The transport ministry said a Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) analysis found the risk of motorcyclists being involved in fatal accidents was 42.5 times higher as compared to a bus, and 16 times higher, for a car.

Last year’s statistics showed that 62 per cent of the 7,152 victims killed on the roads involved motorcyclists and pillion riders.

"Using the Dego Ride service will lead to more road users being exposed to the risk of fatal accidents and serious injuries.

Thus, on factors of safety of motorcyclists and pillion riders, the transport ministry decided not to allow Dego Ride operate on the roads,” the ministry said in a written reply to Chua Tian Chang (PKR-Batu) in Parliament today.

Chua had asked the ministry to explain why the Dego Ride service was not allowed to operate without approval whereas GrabCar was allowed to operate even while waiting for SPAD to provide guidelines and amendments to the law. — Bernama