Should Riding a Motorcycle to School Be Banned for Those under 17 Years Old?

by

Muhammad Zidan Naufal

e-mail: Mzidan9824@gmail.com

Blog Link: https://mzidan9824.blogspot.com/2025/12/blog-post.html

 

Every morning, many students can be seen riding motorcycles to school without wearing proper safety equipment. This phenomenon has become common in many areas in Indonesia. Motorcycles are often considered practical and time-saving for students. However, this habit also raises serious safety and legal concerns. Many underage students ride motorcycles without a driving license or adequate riding skills. Therefore, riding a motorcycle to school should be banned for students under 17 years old because it increases traffic accidents, violates traffic laws, and encourages irresponsible behavior among teenagers.

First, banning underage students from riding motorcycles can reduce traffic accidents. Teenagers under 17 generally lack sufficient experience and emotional maturity to handle traffic situations safely. According to traffic safety experts, young riders tend to take more risks on the road. As a result, accident rates involving underage motorcyclists are relatively high. Some people argue that students can ride carefully if they are trained. However, this argument is weak because careful riding does not eliminate the lack of legal responsibility and maturity. Therefore, banning underage riders is a reasonable solution to protect students’ lives.

Second, riding a motorcycle under the age of 17 clearly violates traffic laws. Indonesian law requires a valid driving license, which can only be obtained at the age of 17. Allowing underage students to ride motorcycles means tolerating illegal behavior. Some parents believe that giving permission makes it acceptable. Nevertheless, parental permission cannot override national laws. Thus, enforcing a ban helps students understand the importance of obeying rules and respecting the law.

 

Third, banning motorcycle use can encourage responsible behavior among students. When students rely on public transportation or school buses, they learn to manage their time better. In contrast, riding motorcycles freely often leads to reckless behavior. Critics say that public transportation is inconvenient and time-consuming. Even so, safety and character building are more important than convenience. Consequently, this ban can positively shape students’ attitudes toward responsibility.

In conclusion, banning students under 17 from riding motorcycles to school is necessary. This policy can reduce traffic accidents, ensure obedience to traffic laws, and promote responsible behavior. If this issue is ignored, the number of accidents involving students may continue to increase. Therefore, schools, parents, and the government should work together to enforce this rule and provide safer transportation alternatives for students.

 Reference

 

Indonesian National Police. (2009). Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 22 of 2009    concerning road traffic and transportation. Indonesian Government.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2019). Teenage risk-taking behaviour and road safety. OECD Publishing.

World Health Organization. (2018). Global status report on road safety 2018. World Health Organization.

Yusof, N. M., & Ibrahim, N. (2017). Risky riding behaviors among adolescent motorcyclists. Journal of Safety Research, 62, 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2017.06.004

Sukmana, O. (2020). Traffic law awareness among Indonesian teenagers. Journal of Indonesian Social Sciences, 12(2), 115–123.