‘Number of backseat passengers wearing seatbelts still low’
SIBU: More educational campaigns are needed to raise awareness of buckling up among the motorists here and their passengers, especially those in the rear seats.
In this regard, National Road Safety Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said based on a 2014 nationwide report by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research ( Miros), the percentage of backseat passengers wearing seatbelts was at a mere 8.6 per cent.
“Furthermore, an observation carried out by Miros during the last Hari Raya Aidilfitri operation – the percentage was only 4.9 per cent. It is very important that passengers in the rear seats (of vehicles) belt up for safety – they should not take things for granted,” he said in commenting on Minister of Welfare, Community, Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah’s recent statement about her ministry seeking collaborations aimed at increasing awareness on the importance of using child safety seats in vehicles.
In stressing her point, Fatimah pointed out that in New Zealand, it is mandatory for every infant and young child to be kept in booster seats suitable for their age, weight and height, at the back passenger’s seats, and not in the front seat of a car.
In this respect, Lee suggested the ministry to work together with the Road Safety Department (JPJ).
“Perhaps (it would be good for them) to collaborate on having more educational campaigns to increase the awareness of child safety seats and their benefits.
“It is a good idea for (Fatimah’s) ministry to do something that would increase the awareness of the importance of using child safety seats. It is high time for awareness campaigns (to be rolled out) by the ministry and JPJ Sarawak – I am all for it.”
Nevertheless, Lee acknowledged that having a child safety seat can be quite costly and many vehicle owners are not prepared for ‘such investment’.
“Nevertheless, it is important for children to be kept to these safety seats as they tend to stand inside the vehicles, while their parents are driving – this is dangerous,” he said.