THERE is no denying that everyone, including children, knows that seat belts for the driver and front passenger can save them from serious bodily injuries in the event of an accident. Likewise for the back-seat passengers.

Back-seat passengers who do not use seat belts not only risk their lives but also that of the driver and front passenger when they are thrown forward in a collision.

Imagine riding a roller-coaster and taking sharp turns at breakneck speed without the safety belt. You will be ejected from the seat when it makes a sudden turn.

Something similar happens in a car if back-seat passengers do not buckle up.

Airbags installed in some vehicles are just for additional safety and not meant to replace seat belts.

The plan by the Transport Ministry and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety to encourage and make it mandatory for back-seat passengers to use the seat belts is commendable (”Encouraging the use of rear passenger seatbelts” — NST, April 5).

But the law to make using rear seat belts mandatory will only be “enforced sometime this year”. The term “sometime this year” can mean anywhere between now and the end of the year.

Why not have a definite date for the implementation? If the authorities are serious about the safety of car passengers, the use of rear seat belts should be made compulsory as soon as possible.

It would be better to implement it immediately as almost all new cars, whether they are imported or locally assembled, are already fitted with rear seat belts.

Exception should only be granted to owners of vehicles without them, along with a grace period to have them fitted.

MOHD FAIZAL ABDULLAH, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – April 14, 2008