The use of rear seat belts has been mandatory in Malaysia since 2009, but very few people have observed the rule, simply because there has been no enforcement of it in the past. Back in 2021, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (MIROS) reported from its observations that only around 11% of rear occupants used seat belts, despite the regulations being there.
That will soon change, of course, with the road transport department (JPJ) having announced last September that it will soon begin enforcing the mandatory use of seatbelts for all drivers and passengers in private vehicles nationwide. The exact date for the start of enforcement was not disclosed when the announcement was made, but it was mentioned that there would be a period of advocacy before that happens, with educational campaigns like Klik Sebelum Gerak being one of the approaches taken.
Random enforcement may be accelerating things. Earlier this month, a traffic summons was reportedly issued to a motorist for a rear occupant failing to wear a seat belt, with a Facebook post bringing the matter to light. The notice, issued under the Road Transport Act 1987, cited the offence and was said to have been issued on February 7 at Jalan Persiaran Pusat Bandar Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
In any case, while strict enforcement will undoubtedly ensure that rear occupants in a vehicle buckle up, road safety experts continue to highlight the safety reasons as to why rear occupants should always be buckled up. Road Safety Council of Malaysia (MKJR) council executive member Datuk Suret Singh stressed the importance of their use, saying that rear seat belts can reduce the risk of serious injury by up to 50% in a crash, as The Star reports.
Meanwhile, Universiti Putra Malaysia road safety research centre head, Law Teik Hua, said that many Malaysians perceive the use of rear seat belts as “optional,” but “in a collision, rear passengers can be flung forward with great force, endangering themselves and those in front.”
He said that a change in mindset was necessary, and not because of the fear that non-compliance would only be costly in monetary terms. “Wearing a rear seat belt is not about avoiding a fine, but about protecting lives,” he explained. He added that parents should ensure children are properly secured at all times. “A few seconds spent buckling up could save a life,” he stated.
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JPJ should revise the draconian and dated test for motorbike riding license. One of the nonsense is still using hand signal that is only suits vespa era which are not equipped with turn indicators.
The comedian acts of the riding test are the reason why people don’t want to go to driving school to learn and sit the test and obtain B2/B1/B license.
rear seat belts has been mandatory in Malaysia since 2009, but only 11% uses it in 2021, so what happened throughout the years of smoking Syoking law but without any action.
Bagus bagus. Don’t leave it too long for baby seat, more than 2 people on motorcycle or pakai helmet enforcement can?
A huge number of deaths are avoidable each year and people hate to talk about it after an accident because its “insensitive”. How many times do we see fatal accidents on Facebook where the passenger compartment is still intact? Adults, kids, lorry drivers…..already I cant count the number of people who would have survived. A seatbelt isn’t uncomfortable and it saves lives. A lap is no place for a child. An armrest isn’t the place for the child. A child shouldn’t be able to open a door on the road. “My child complains too much for a seatbelt”…….no you are too lazy of a parent. The rest of the world properly takes care of kids.
Malaysian doesn’t bother to buckle-up. They already have registered as organ donor including their own childs.
correct. its for safety.
i like how the zeekr 7x, sends a beeping alarm, if a rear passenger doesnt wear a seatbelt. this should be a compulsory component in updating the regulation. sensors on all seats.