Motorcycle Race Crashes Motorcycle race crashes can occur in professional and street situations alike. In any motorcycling situation the risk of accidents increases as speed, alcohol involvement, and bike speed increase. This makes motorcycle race crashes a greater threat. Motorcycle race crashes can occur on the streets when motorcyclists decide to travel at fast speeds to challenge another cyclist or driver. Motorcycle race crashes can also occur in a professional motorcycle race, posing the threat of injury to the motorcyclist, mechanics, spectators, and track workers.

Motorcycle race crashes are particularly dangerous because they often occur at high speeds. With increased speed, a motorcyclist has less control over his/her cycle and the conditions under which they are driving. Statistics indicate that over ninety percent of all motorcycle crashes involve an untrained or under-trained rider. This can be especially true in amateur motorcycle race crashes.

Over 67,000 people were injured and another 3,661 people lost their lives in motorcycle crashes in 2003 alone. Of these motorcycle accidents, approximately three quarters involved other passenger vehicles. More than sixty percent of these cases were the result of passenger car driver negligence, often failure to yield the right of way to a motorcyclist. In some cases, motorcycle accidents are the result of defective motorcycle parts or hazardous road conditions. With regards to motorcycle race crashes, many are the result of motorcycle negligence.

Illegal street racing can lead to motorcycle race crashes that can cause serious injury to racers, other drivers and passengers, and anyone else who is the unfortunate victim of motorcycle race crashes. Eighty percent of motorcycle race crashes result in injury or death. There are several motorcycle race crashes risk factors which are increased with increases in speed, alcohol involvement, cycle size, and lack of protective equipment.

The faster a motorcycle is traveling, the more dangerous motorcycle race crashes can be to those involved. The most serious and life threatening injuries that are sustained in motorcycle race crashes are traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries that can lead to disability, paralysis, coma, and death. The faster a motorcycle is traveling, the greater the impact will be during motorcycle race crashes. This makes catastrophic and fatal injuries more likely in motorcycle race crashes compared to other crashes.

Motorcycle race crashes can occur even among professional racers. Almost one hundred people have died in Indianapolis motorcycle race crashes since they first began. Cyclists, spectators, and workers have all been the victims of these motorcycle race crashes. This goes to show that even among the best trained and experienced riders, motorcycle race crashes are still a major risk.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a motorcycle race crash, you may wish to contact a qualified and experienced attorney who can advise you of your rights and options in a case to receive compensation for your losses.

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So sick of Mat Rempit! Francis Paul | Dec 15, 06 4:49pm

WHEN I was 18, my father bought me a 100cc Suzuki scrambler. I remember how proud I was when I first received the machine which was red in colour. It was my first motor-bike. Now I can junk my old bicycle and proudly ride my motorcycle to school.

But my love affair with my brand new motorcycle only lasted eight months. A self-accident, five months later, saw me crashing the machine into the front gate of my house

early one morning as I was rushing for school. I was badly shaken up and sustained bruises on my arms and legs. I also had to miss school for two days.

The accident, however, taught me a few things. The motor-bike is a dangerous machine and the rider is very exposed to harm and injury in an accident. Although the Suzuki’s engine capacity was only 100cc, it could accelerate at quite a high speed. This was one danger. The other was that the machine was light and could easily swerve out of control, if not handled with care.

After another accident in my school compound three months later, I gave up on the motor-bike. Looking back, I can count my lucky stars that the accidents did not occur on public roads. Otherwise, I would either sustain more serious injuries or be a goner.

Eight months were all the time I spent with my motor-bike. I gave the machine to my younger brother after that and decided to ask my father to drive me to school instead.

I must concede that I was never good in handling a motorcycle. My sense of balance was poor.

Zero tolerance

As a teenager, I had already discovered how dangerous the two-wheeler can be. And today, I cannot help but feel very annoyed, disturbed and angry at those who abuse the machines on public roads. In so doing, they not only endanger their own lives but other road users as well.

Now, let me make a very honest declaration: I have ZERO tolerance for Mat Rempit (a capital ‘zero’) That’s how I feel whenever the subject of these illegal motorcycle racers (colloquially known as Mat Rempit) is brought up.

If they were lined up to face the firing squad, I don’t mind to volunteer to pull the trigger. To me, these people are a criminal of sort. They are parasites. Their idea of fun is having pleasure on public roads and they have no qualms if others are killed as a result of their having fun.

Perhaps I should relate a few incidents that I personally witnessed so as to let you all know why I think so lowly and am just pissed off by these people.

One incident I remember well happened about three years ago. I was enjoying a late night supper of bak kut teh with a visiting friend from Kuching at Jalan Raja Laut in Kuala Lumpur. My friend’s wife was also with us. I think it was around 11pm.

Suddenly, vroom...vrooom...vroooooommmmm, some 20 of those hell raisers roared by on their machines with modified exhausts screaming down the road. The loud roars of the machines startled everyone. For a moment, I noticed that the faces of my friend and his wife had turned pale. My heart was also racing, perhaps skipping a beat or two, as a result of the intolerable noise and fright..

The noise as the Mat Rempit roared by was deafening. The three-lane Jalan Raja Laut that night was still busy and pedestrians could be seen crossing the street at that hour.

When the first group of Mat Rempit roared by, everything was fine - as far as I could see from where I was sitting, just outside the restaurant.

The second group then roared by, some carrying other guys or girlfriends as pillions. My guests and myself soon lost our appetite and were just about to leave when suddenly, one of the racers (possibly from a third group) lost control of his machine and was coming our way. All of us scrambled to safety in the nick of time as the machine slammed into some tables and chairs near us. It came to a halt some 10 meters away near the entrance to a bank.

No sympathy

The fellow who was lucky to escape with only bruises had earlier collided with another Mat Rempit. The other guy was not so fortunate. He landed on the road a distance away from us. Later, we could see his life-less body being carried into a passing car. God knows what happened to him!

Well, call me a cold, heartless person if you will but I have no sympathy whatsoever for the two guys. They deserved what they got.

I dare not imagine what would happen if the machine were to plough into a group of children having their meals outside the restaurant then. You tell me.

Then, there was another occasion several months ago when I was driving along Jalan Kuching (also in KL) just after the old toll plaza. It was around midnight. I believe there were four groups of these hell raisers who zoomed past me at breakneck speed. I was cruising along the middle lane of the highway, feeling tired as well as upset by the antics of the Mat Rempit

My sixth sense seemed to tell me that something was about to happen that night and it did. Suddenly, one of them swerved too close to my vehicle and clipped the side-view mirror. The fella’s guardian angel must be with him that night. Luckily, he did not fall from his bike, otherwise he would have been rammed over by his own kind who were speeding behind.

As if I was in the wrong, the lousy fella gave me his middle finger before speeding off to catch up with his mates. The only damage to my car was a

broken mirror but I dare not think of what would happen to the Mat Rempit had I not kept my rage under control. Had I deliberately swerved towards him, he would probably have wished that he hadn’t been born.

Another incident which I can recall vividly happened 10 years ago in Kuching. I remember the year because it was during the 1996 state elections.

That day, I was driving home along Jalan Tun Haji Openg just before midnight. There was a motorcyclist in front of me, riding his machine at a reasonable speed. As we neared the Jalan Badruddin/Golflinks/Haji Openg roundabout (now a traffic light junction), four or five of those illegal racers suddenly zoomed past me. Within a split second, I saw the motorcyclist in front of me crashed his machine on the concrete kerb. I knew he was trying to give way and avoid the hell racers but he rode too close to the roadside. He fell and I could see that he was injured. The Mat Rempit happily sped off, as if nothing had happened.

They don’t care

I could not stop there and then to get down and help the guy as there were traffic behind me. And I had to make the turn at the roundabout to get back to the injured man on the road. Surprisingly, other motorists who passed by did not stop to help the poor fellow.

Luckily, the man was not badly injured even though his machine was a total wreck. I sent him to the hospital which was nearby. I later learnt that he was a soldier and he was returning to the Mile 8 Army Penrissen Camp that night. When he was unable to contact any family or friends at that ungodly hour, I decided to stay with him. He was treated for his bruises and gashes on his arms and legs. Upon further checks and observation, the doctor finally agreed to discharge him. After accompanying the young man to lodge a police report on the accident, I sent him back to his Penrissen Camp. By the time I reached home myself, it was almost morning.

Of course, those Mat Rempit couldn’t care two hoots how others suffered as a result of them enjoying themselves and getting the kick out of racing.

I think the sooner the government introduce harsher penalties for illegal motorcycle racing, the better.

Mat Rempit have rightly been categorised under the high-risk group as they are likely to be involved in road accidents. They are people who ride their motorcycles without observing traffic rules, endangering not only themselves but others as well.

This week, Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon expressed concern that the growing menace of Mat Rempit in the state will affect efforts to promote the

state as a tourism destination if it is not curbed fast.

“Surely the tourists will want to think twice about coming to Penang if we have cases of Mat Rempit going around on a robbing spree,'' he said.

Early Sunday morning, several groups of Mat Rempit had gone on a robbing spree in Seberang Prai. They robbed a family of four and another man in separate incidents between 4am and 5am.

Koh said the police and relevant authorities would have to take swift and stern action to stop such incidents as they not only caused bodily harm to people and damage to properties but also tarnished the image of the state and country.

Off the streets, please!

On Monday, outgoing Kedah Chief Police Officer Zuber Mohd Shariff chided certain quarters for seeking the force's permission to temporarily convert public roads into circuits for Mat Rempit.

The requests were made to ensure that the youngsters could “let off steam,” he said.

Zuber said he rejected such requests because allowing vehicles to exceed the speed limit on public roads contravened the Road Transport Act.

Not too long ago, the Sultan of Pahang also expressed his displeasure about the antics of the illegal racers after he had a close brush with a group when he was behind the wheel.

Now, I think Putera Umno should stop wasting its time in trying to use the soft approach and attempting to get recognition for Mat Rempit. Things could get worse if such people think that they have an official recognition of sort. I doubt the 50,000 illegal racers in the country are able to act responsibly - until perhaps they get severely injured in accidents.

I agree wholeheartedly with Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam who said recently that if they (Mat Rempit) can’t even be bothered to pay fines for breaking traffic rules, then it is better to send them to jail.

"They can repent while doing their time, and this will also act as a deterrence to others who want to show off their skills and participate in illegal races. They are endangering

their lives and those of other road users," the rather irked chief minister said.

You can say that again, Datuk Seri. I am also sick, sick, very sick of them. Please get those ‘parasites’ off our streets.

And I am pretty sure that among the 50,000 Mat Rempit, there are a few hundreds who are just as poor in balancing themselves on a two-wheeler as me. But then again, even as a teenager, I didn't have to let off steam by racing on the street.

My advice to those Mat Rempit who want to let off steam is: Bang your head hard on the wall - without the helmet.

FRANCIS PAUL declares Mat Rempit public enemy No 1 on Malaysian roads. He can be reached at francis@malaysiakini.com.

Mat RempitFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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One of Mat Rempit's favourite 'Aerodynamic Pose' a.k.a. 'Superman' seen on the streets of Malaysia.

A Mat Rempit is a Malaysian term for 'an individual who participates in illegal street racing', usually involving underbone motorcycles (colloquially known as Kapcai) or scooters. Not all Mat Rempits are involved in street racing; some of them perform crazy stunts for fun, such as the wheelie, superman (lying flat on the seat), wikang, and scorpion (standing on the seat with one leg during a wheelie).

Mat Rempits usually travel in groups and race in bustling city centres on weekend nights. In recent times, Mat Rempits have been linked to gangsterism, gang robbery[1][2], street fighting, assault[3], vandalism, theft and bullying. Most motorcycles used by the Mat Rempits do not meet standard specifications, or have been modified extensively for greater speed, or just to make the exhaust noisier.

Additionally, some Mat Rempits do not have valid motorcycle licenses, do not pay road taxes, and ride stolen motorcycles [4] [5] . A growing number of housing estates have also been turned into racing tracks[6]. It is estimated that there are about 200,000 Mat Rempits in Malaysia[7].

In some other countries, the term Mat Rempit is also used, but more to refer to one as a motorcycle lover or rider (Mat Motor), as opposed to an illegal motorcycle racer. Sometime the terms of Mat Rempit misused to refer any individual who rides an underbone motorcycle. Related to this is the Mat Konvoi, which claim to be the non-racing version of Mat Rempit.

November 21, 2006

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Mat Rempit : What Malaysian should know

attitude, government politicians, illegal racing, illegal street, kamikaze, mat rempit, peer influence, street racers, win the race, youth group

*This is a submitted post by Bat:

Illegal street racers, or in the well known names, Mat Rempit, is a serious issue that knock our country right now. Known for their kamikaze skills on the road, causing chaos in society, their unmannered attitude and the current is murdering people. Statistics shows that this group causes too many crime and problems. With their enormous amount, they felt like the road is belongs to them and nobody have any rights to punish them. This is why almost everyday we heard and see their actions and news on the media. Their popularity is equal to Mawi and Datuk Siti Nurhaliza until then, the film maker had decided to make film about them. So, as a Malaysian, what is our role in solving this issue? Do we need to blame themselves for all this or it is us who let this things happen? Let us see why this Mat Rempit issues happens and how we should solve it together.

As we can see, almost all of Mat Rempit is in the youth group. We should realize that in this stage, their thinking, attitude and action were influenced by their peers. They used to follow their friends rather than their own parents and teachers advice. This peer influence is very strong and sometimes dangerous if they follow the wrong path for example the illegal racing. This is why the amount of Mat Rempit is increasing from time to time.

Furthermore, the desire to try something new and challenging is one of the factors that lured them into the illegal racing. They felt that it is very admirable and outstanding if they can win the race or do suicide skills such as riding in the high speed or get away

from the police road blocks. They love to break the laws since they think that it is just an amusement for them.

So, how we want to solve this problem? How we want to settle down this issue that has been caused many problems to us? The government, politicians and police have done many things to settle this, but it seems like there are no stopping point for the Mat Rempit. We should give a compliment to Pemuda UMNO for their effort to convert this Mat Rempit to “Mat Cemerlang” by giving them an opportunity to change and UMNO membership. Although this step is like a politics campaign, we should bear in mind that maybe one day they will realize that there are people who concern about them and hoping they will change.

Next, schools play an important role in order to solve this problem. I’m not saying parents since I know that some parents didn’t know their son’s attitude very much compared to the teachers and their friends. This is because in school, they used to be with their friends and we can determine their attitude very well by observing with whom they are making friends. Schools should collaborate with the police to identify which students involved in illegal racing and punish them by sending them to the counselor or in the serious case, dismiss them from school. This is very important in order to prevent this student to influence the other students to join him. Although this approach is too drastic and cruel, we should consider that the youth is tending to be influenced by their friends.

Furthermore, in my opinion, the National Service Training Program or PLKN should include a module that thought the trainee to avoid and aware the illegal racing. They should be exposed to the danger of illegal race, the punishment that will wait them if involved and how to enjoy their life in the best ways. By implementing this approach, at least, the trainee can think wisely and preventing them to become one of the Mat Rempit candidates.

As a conclusion, what I can say is, action speaks louder than words. It is useless if we just babbling around and blaming them for all this problems although some of them caused some serious case. We should cooperate with government, politicians and NGOs to track back how this thing happen and find a solution to solve it. The Mat Rempit should be thankful for the government and society for not treating them like the snatch thief and the homosexual group although they have cause many problems. The government and society still can accept them as long as they want to change. We can see many campaign and approach for them right now. After all, this group is our country’s apprentice that will lead us in the future. If they are still like now and we are just blaming them, the one who are needed to blame is just our self.