WHEN I read the Transport Ministry’s announcement that after June 1, back-seat car passengers would be reminded to belt up and by September, offenders would be fined, I told myself to wait for the retraction announcement.

The ministry did not disappoint.

Now the plan has been postponed and the authorities hope the public will forget.

Let’s recall all the failed rules to make driving safer as mooted by the ministry:

- Lorries had to adhere to the speed limit of 80kph or else the device fitted to the engine and hooked to a bulb fixed on top of the driver’s cabin would light up to not only remind the drivers to slow down but also to alert other drivers.

The ministry shelved the idea. It said that there were not enough devices available.

- Then it was tinted glass. Drivers were not allowed any that cut off more than 25 per cent of the light. This was to enable the police to have an unobstructed view of the occupants. At first, the police were vigilant about implementing the rule. Now, you can see many cars with tints so dark you can’t see who’s inside. Yet, not a peep from the ministry, though several letters on the subject have been published.

- After several accidents involving express buses, the ministry announced that all buses would be fitted with a black box, just like passenger aircraft, to get data on what happened before a crash.

Guess what happened? Express buses continue to go on the roads with not a single black box in sight.

So, do you blame the public for being cynical whenever the ministry comes up with an idea?

As it is, it has not only delayed the implementation of the back-seatbelt rule but has compromised by saying that only three at the back need to belt up, while the rest would have to take their chances should a crash occur.

A.M. NORAN, Subang Jaya

Source: NST – June 26, 2008