Road Safety

Right after the clock strike 12am on 1st January 2009, the amendment made by the Road Safety Department which makes it mandatory for rear-seat passengers to wear seat belts came into effect and is enforced.

According to The News Straits Times Online today, Road Transport Department officers issued 242 summonses nationwide within two hours of it becoming mandatory for rear seat passengers to buckle up.It is reported that until 30th June 2009, rear seat passengers will be issued a RM300 compound fine for not wearing the seat belt. After that, offenders will face either a RM2,000 fine, a year's jail or both. The summonses are issued to individual passengers aged 17 years and above, and in the case where the rear-seat passengers are under 17, the driver is fined.

Personally, i think that it's good that the Road Transport Department are concerned about our safety on the road and are ensuring that we follow the rules so that we can avoid road accidents. However, i felt that the fine of RM2000 and a year's jail is pretty heavy for such an offense. Furthermore, there are only 3 seat belts available in the back seats. What if there are 4 passengers sitting at the back seats? 3 of them will buckle up, and 1 person no need to buckle up? Hmmm.......