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The Star
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Time to enforce rear seat belt law
PETALING JAYA: For 16 years, a law requiring back seat passengers to wear seat belts has existed, but enforcement has been weak and many passengers remain complacent. As the Transport Ministry ramps up enforcement on various road safety issues, experts say it's time the law is taken seriously to protect lives. The use of rear seat belts was mandated under the Motor Vehicles (Seatbelt) Rules 2008, with enforcement initially scheduled to begin in 2013, following a period of public advocacy. Road Safety Council of Malaysia executive council member Datuk Suret Singh said enough time has passed since the law's introduction. 'The advocacy period was only one or two years. The use of the rear seat belt needs to be enforced as there is clear complacency now. During the early promotion campaigns, before enforcement even began, rear seat belt usage was already at 45-47%. 'We were making great progress. But now, I believe usage has dropped to just 10-15%,' said the former Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) chairman. Miros chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon said many rear passengers mistakenly believe they don't need to use seat belts due to cushioning from the front seat. 'This is a myth. The seats are not designed to absorb that sort of impact to save your life. 'It is the seat belt that is designed to do so. Do not expect the front seat to minimise the impact,' he said, adding that wearing a rear seat belt can reduce the risk of fatality by 25-45%. He also warned that unbelted rear passengers endanger others in the vehicle. 'If the rear passengers do not wear their seat belt during a crash, they can be thrown forward, pushing the front seat and increasing risk to the front passenger and driver,' he said. Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua, head of the Road Safety Research Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia's Engineering Faculty, said the ban on dummy seat belt buckles and the requirement for all buses to have seat belts is an encouraging step towards improving safety measures on the roads. However, he said it is just as important to reconsider the enforcement of rear seat belt usage in private vehicles. 'Enforcement and public compliance are far from satisfactory despite mandatory usage. Many rear passengers do not bother to wear seat belts due to a combination of laziness, ignorance or lack of enforcement. 'We need to shift our attention from legislation towards actual implementation. Strong enforcement along with unrelenting public awareness campaigns is essential,' said Prof Law. He also agreed that wearing seat belts reduced the chances of injury or death and that unbuckled rear passengers could endanger others too during a collision. According to the Motor Vehicles Rules (Seatbelt) regulation, vehicle drivers and passengers who do not use a seat belt (front or rear) can be fined up to RM2,000 or jailed for one year or both.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
Tambaram gets ‘traffic marshal' two-wheelers to tackle congestion, accidents
The Tambaram City Traffic Police (TCTP) have launched an initiative to improve road safety and traffic management by introducing 26 'traffic marshal' two-wheelers. These vehicles will patrol Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road, Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR), East Coast Road (ECR), 200 Feet Radial Road, and other important arterial roads within the TCTP limits. Each vehicle is equipped with a public address system, siren, and blinking lights to improve visibility, especially during night patrols and rush hours. The traffic marshals will work in eight-hour shifts, focusing on peak hours, clearing traffic congestion, managing accident scenes, assisting with vehicle breakdowns, and ensuring smooth traffic flow near educational institutions and offices. Launching the initiative on Wednesday (July 2, 2025), Tambaram City Police Commissioner Abin Dinesh Modak said the TCTP has also carried out several improvement drives to make roads safer and more efficient, as well as special drives to remove roadside encroachments on major arterial roads. More than 150 roadside food carts have been removed, Mr. Abin said. Wrong-side driving Strict enforcement against wrong-side driving has led to the registration of more than 4,000 cases. Major changes, like the improvements made at the Kamatchi Hospital Junction, where waiting timing has reduced considerably, have been introduced. Similarly, the implementation of a one-way system in Kundrathur has also helped in easing traffic, he said. As a result of these efforts, traffic rule enforcement has significantly increased. A total of 2,25,109 cases under the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act were registered as of June 2025, up from 1,50,778 cases in 2024. Helmet violation cases alone rose to 48,551, compared to 26,051 last year. Drunken driving enforcement has also been intensified. The TCTP registered 4,827 cases in 2025, up from 1,937 in 2024. All offenders faced licence cancellation as part of stricter penalties. Increased late-night patrolling contributed to a drop in accidents during night hours, he added. The officer said public awareness and community engagement remain a key focus, and campaigns like the 'No Helmet No Ride' programme aim to encourage helmet use. Special drives against wrong-side driving and workshops for auto and cab drivers promote safe driving habits and better legal compliance, he added. All accident-prone areas, or 'black spots', have been fixed through coordination with local civic bodies, road authorities, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), said traffic police officials.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
High seat belt compliance in Penang buses
BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) has observed a high level of adherence to seat belt regulations among express and tour bus passengers and drivers in the state. The findings follow a special enforcement operation conducted since Tuesday to monitor compliance with the new directive. During the operation, JPJ officers inspected 125 express buses and 43 tour buses. Only three summonses were issued—one to a driver and two to passengers—for failing to wear seat belts. The driver was caught at the Sungai Dua Toll Plaza while traveling from Kedah to Kuala Lumpur. The two passengers, on a bus from Ipoh to Butterworth, were identified by undercover JPJ officers onboard. 'All three individuals were fined RM300 each,' said JPJ director Zulkifly Ismail. He noted that the low number of violations indicates strong public awareness of the regulation. Speaking after an enforcement operation at Penang Sentral Bus Terminal, Zulkifly explained that JPJ deployed plainclothes officers to discreetly monitor compliance. 'If a driver or passenger is found not wearing a seat belt, the officer can immediately issue a summons,' he said. In addition to undercover checks, JPJ conducted inspections at major terminals, including Penang Sentral and Sungai Nibong, as well as rest stops and roadblocks. 'Seat belts are for personal safety. In the event of an accident, they can prevent passengers from being thrown from their seats,' Zulkifly added. He also urged public transport operators to ensure their buses meet safety standards by having functional seat belts. 'Express buses registered from Jan 1, 2020, must be fitted with seat belts. Operators of older buses are encouraged to install them before commencing any journey,' he said. The enforcement aligns with the Motor Vehicles (Seat Belt and Child Restraint System) Rules 1978 (Amendment 2008).
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
23 bus passengers issued compounds for failing to wear seat belts
KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has issued compound notices to 23 bus passengers for not wearing seat belts during inspections carried out since July 1. Kuala Lumpur JPJ director Hamidi Adam said the enforcement operation was aimed at improving safety compliance among bus passengers, in line with regulations under the Motor Vehicles (Seat Belt and Child Restraint System) Rules. The rules require all rear seats in buses, except stage buses, manufactured on or after January 1, 2020 to be fitted with seat belts. "This regulation is crucial to minimising injuries and fatalities in the event of accidents or unforeseen incidents," he told reporters during an operation at the Gombak Toll Plaza last night. The operation team inspected 44 buses in total, comprising 41 express buses and three tour buses. From these, 23 passengers were found not wearing their seat belts and were issued compound notices. "We also came across three underaged passengers who were not buckled up. Our officers explained the importance of using seat belts and advised them accordingly," Hamidi said. Hamidi stressed that passengers are responsible for wearing their seat belts throughout their bus journeys. "Failure to do so not only breaks the law but also endangers your life and the lives of others. "We encourage passengers to report any non-compliance via the MyJPJ app or by emailing aduantrafik@ he said. He added that bus operators are also responsible for ensuring that all passenger seats are fitted with functional seat belts and for reminding passengers to use them before the journey begins. "Safety information must also be delivered through audio, visual displays, or announcements by the driver or crew. "We will continue public education and awareness campaigns, including through social media, infographics, and collaborations with bus and terminal operators," he said. He stressed that all passengers, operators, and enforcement personnel must work together to ensure a safe and disciplined transport system.
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Bus passengers urged to buckle up
ALOR SETAR: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has started enforcement to inspect express and tour buses in several states, in line with the Motor Vehicles (Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems) Regulations 1978 Amendment (2008), to see if drivers and passengers comply with the ruling to wear seat belts. The operations, which have been carried out since Tuesday, also found that although some buses had seat belts on the passenger seats, they were not in working condition. For the first offence of not wearing a seat belt, the fine is RM2,000 or a jail term of not more than six months. Kedah Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Stien Van Lutam said they will be using undercover enforcement tactics to detect express and tour bus drivers and passengers who do not wear seat belts. 'Our enforcement is not limited to roadblocks or checks at bus terminals and rest stops. 'Through undercover operations, if drivers or passengers are found not wearing seat belts – and there is visual evidence – a compound will be issued. 'The use of seat belts is ultimately for one's own safety. In the event of an accident, we want to prevent passengers from being thrown from their seats due to not wearing a seat belt,' he said, Bernama reported. He said this during a seat belt enforcement operation targeting express and tour buses at the Alor Setar Toll Plaza (northbound) on Tuesday. During the operation, which began around 4.30pm, a total of 18 express and tour buses were inspected. Sixteen compound notices and two warnings were issued to passengers for not wearing seat belts. He added that inspections also revealed that many seat belts on the buses were not functioning properly, and JPJ will continue to work with the Royal Malaysia Police and other agencies to carry out similar operations periodically. 'This is a matter of safety. I urge bus operators to ensure that seat belts are available and in good working condition. 'In many cases, seat belts are fitted with the seats, but they're damaged or not usable.' Over in Selangor, checks by the state JPJ showed a high level of compliance from bus passengers using their seat belts following inspections carried out on 56 express buses and 26 tour buses. Of that figure, at least five were inspected at the Dengkil R&R Centre yesterday. JPJ officers were seen flagging down buses nearby along the Elite highway before forwarding them to the checkpoints there. Passengers were seen complying dutifully, with some even finding time to wave at the waiting media. Selangor JPJ director Azrin Borhan, who was on the ground, also personally spoke to several passengers and showed them the proper usage of the seat belts. Speaking to reporters after the checks, he said that he was pleased with the level of compliance in the state. 'We had checked five buses by random here and all passengers were found to have been wearing seat belts. 'Drivers also play an important role in reminding their passengers before heading off on their journey,' he said. Azrin said while the JPJ will issue summonses to those who do not comply, they will give reminders to underage passengers. 'Throughout these two days, we have found that almost all had obeyed the ruling. Continuous efforts will be conducted to ensure enforcement,' he said. Buses that had faulty seat belts will also be given strict reminders to rectify them 'as soon as possible'. 'If they still refuse to do so and ferry passengers, the bus owner will be issued a summons,' he said.
