India’s burgeoning expressway construction boom may have fundamentally changed the long-distance driving landscape for cars, but what about motorcycles and other two-wheelers? Many of India’s expressways are currently off-limits to motorcycles and other two-wheelers, but should that apply to all two-wheelers?
Low-capacity, low-performance motorcycles and other two-wheelers are unsafe on expressways, but not all motorcycles are created equal.
Riders of the Storm Motorcycle Club (ROTSMC) recently spoke to the media and expressed their support for allowing capacity motorcycles on the expressway.
ROTSMC riders with media
Regulation for Capable Motorcycles
India’s current blanket prohibition makes sense given the danger posed by low-capacity, low-performance commuter motorcycles and scooters, but maybe not for motorcycles that can keep up with traffic.
India’s current FASTag system can support this.
Motorcycles with an engine capacity over 500cc could be issued a motorcycle FASTag and permitted on expressways, while two-wheelers with insufficient capacity or performance could be denied passage at the toll plaza.
This way, sub-capacity motorcycles are kept off expressways, while motorcyclists with the proper equipment can be permitted.
Are Expressways Safer or More Dangerous for Motorcyclists?
The Government’s stated reason for banning two-wheelers from expressways is to improve safety; however, this argument seems to rest on the assumption that two-wheelers are inherently unsafe on conventional highways. The question we should be asking ourselves is: are motorcyclists actually safer on a national highway with a greater mix of traffic speeds and road users compared to an expressway?
National Highways tend to have a greater mix of traffic users such as pedestrians, animals, agricultural conveyances, slow-moving traffic, roadside activity, and traffic entering and exiting the main carriageway. Expressways, by contrast, are typically one-way carriageways with controlled access and no at-grade intersections. For a competent motorcyclist on a competent motorcycle, riding on an expressway might actually improve safety because it reduces exposure to the wider, mixed traffic stream. This assumption needs hard data on accident rates involving motorcycles on conventional highways versus expressways.
Motorcyclists Pay Their Share Too
Motorcycle owners pay their share of taxes through vehicle excise duty, cess, and other taxes because they are road-going vehicles. Motorcycle owners also pay road tolls when riding on expressways and other toll roads that allow two-wheelers as eligible vehicles.
This makes the argument that tax-paying citizens should be prohibited from using a certain class of roads even more tenuous. Instead, a capability-based approach to expressway access could be net positive for motorcycle sales in India, as well as revenues for NHAI and expressway concessionaires, by creating new two-wheeler toll revenue.
India Can Learn from the Rest of the World
The ability to ride a motorcycle on certain classes of road is not unique to India. Motorcycles are permitted on many motorway systems in the United States, Europe, and Asia, with an appropriate mix of administrative and traffic controls. Rather than outright banning two-wheelers from expressways, India can look towards these regions to see how they balance motorcycle usage with road safety.
A Possible Middle Path?
A plausible policy could involve the following:
- A minimum engine capacity/performance requirement on motorcycles seeking to use expressways
- Mandatory FASTag enrollment for qualifying motorcycles
- Appropriate toll rates for motorcycle users
- Strict enforcement of speed limits/lane usage
- Appropriate safety gear/lawful motorcycle riding skill requirements
- Review of this policy based on empirical accident data
India’s investment in expressway infrastructure reflects a commitment to faster, more efficient long-distance transportation. As India’s two-wheeler market matures and grows, its road-safety policies should evolve as well.
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
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