KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) has urged politicians, civil servants and community leaders to “lead by examples” and be a seat belt advocate.
Its chairman Datuk Suret Singh said a study by MIROS on seat belt wearing conducted this year indicates that the compliance rate is at 90 percent for drivers, 70 percent for front passengers, and 11 percent for rear passengers.
“Wearing seat belts properly in both drivers and passengers front and back seats, can reduce the risk of serious injury and death in a crash by 50 percent, and correctly installed and used of height-and weight-appropriate Child Restraint System (CRS) may help to reduce the risk of death by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for children aged one to four years old.
“Almost all passenger cars have already been equipped with seat belts since 1993. Let us make buckling up a daily habit and culture of our society. Our good behaviour and daily reminder to our friends and family will help to save lives.
“Parents should also habitualise their children from an early age to use CRS,” he said in a statement, today.
Suret said the revamp of the Demerit Points System for Traffic Offences (KEJARA) is currently underway by the Ministry of Transport, the Road Transport Department (RTD), the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and Miros for implementation once data integration is completed between RTD and PDRM.
“Not wearing your seat belt can earn you demerit points. It is not worth having your driver’s licence revoked just because of a simple act – buckling your seat belt, which only takes three seconds. It is disheartening to see passengers and babies flung out of vehicles in road crashes,” he said. — Bernama
