Not wearing seat belts a factor in fatal accidents

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KUALA LUMPUR: The refusal of drivers and passengers to wear safety belts is one of the factors that contribute to fatal accidents, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said yesterday.

He cited two cases, one involving two businessmen and another involving three people, including a 20-month-old baby, who were killed when they were thrown out of their vehicles in road crashes reported this year They were not wearing seat belts.

Having been thrown out of the vehicles, the victims were then run over by other vehicles, he told Bernama.

He said in most cases when victims of road crashes were thrown out of their vehicles it was because they were not wearing safety belts.

Despite various campaigns to wear safety belts, many people still do not wear them, even if it is for their own safety, he told Bernama.

Based on the Road Transport Department (RTD) statistics, 47,972 summon notices, worth RM14.3 million, were issued to motorists for not wearing safety belts since 2010.

Lee said despite the RM300 fine imposed on motorists for not wearing safety belts, many still did not wear it.

Hence, the need for campaigns to instill awareness among motorists to avoid fatalities in road crashes, he added.

The wearing of seat belts for rear passengers was enforced on Jan 1, 2009 following a study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) which found that fatalities in road accidents could be reduced by 40 to 50 per cent if the drivers and passengers wear seat belts. — Bernama