Remember from the very first driving lesson, we were drilled into our heads from day one to always wear a seatbelt? Well, that’s for good reason: They’re supposed to keep you safe. However, for some reason still unbeknownst to us, there are still people who still do not want to do so.
Case in point, during the recent Special Chinese New Year Operation, the Negeri Sembilan Road Transport Department issued some 195 notices to occupants not wearing seatbelts while on the road – the highest number of offences recorded during the period, Bernama reported.
Negeri Sembilan JPJ director Hanif Yusabra Yusuf said that the excuses given by the offenders was that they forgot, or that it is uncomfortable to wear a seatbelt. But even more worryingly, over 30% of the offenders were found using a “dummy seatbelt” device to cease the seatbelt reminder tone.
“The use of this accessory is seen to be widespread and becoming a trend these days and that is not a good sign and we need to pay immediate attention to this matter,” he said.
The availability of dummy seatbelts is distressingly widespread and easily accessible to buyers, often found in vehicle accessory shops, convenience stores, and even on online platforms – often for a cheap price of under RM10.
We shouldn’t need to tell you that wearing a seatbelt is important for your safety. According to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), wearing a seatbelt not only holds you in place in the event of a crash, but also allows for the car’s airbags to function properly. Additionally, a seatbelt reduces the risk of turning unrestrained occupants into dangerous projectiles.
While you may be saving a little bit of time and inconvenience, you’ll be paying with your safety when the unfortunate situations arises. Besides, you’ll also be fined RM300 if you get caught – so it’s not a very wise investment anyway!
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