Warning – Updates on Seat Belt Requirement in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

December 28th, 2008 florence.tan

Not wearing your seat belt could land you in jail. Yes.. JAIL. In a statement released by the Malaysian Traffic Authorities on 27 Dec 2008, the seat belt requirement is clarified as such:

Starting 1 Jan 2009, all passengers have to wear the seat belt. This include passengers at the rear seat of the car. Failure to comply will result in:

1 Jan 2009 – 30 Jan 2009: Fine of RM$300.00
1 Jul 2009 onwards: Fine of RM$2000.00 and/or a jail term not exceeding 1 year

Rear seat passengers are exempted from this rule only under any of the 5 scenarios below:
1. The car you are driving a Malaysian registered vehicle, registered before 1st Jan 1995
2. The car you are driving is a Malaysian registered vehicle registered on/after 1st Jan 1995 but does not have any rear seat belts installed. In such case, you have 3 years to get the rear seat belts installed before the ruling applies to you too.
3. Commercial vehicles including buses and taxis (You do not need to put on seat belt if you sit at the back of the taxi).
4. Cars that can carry up to 8 passengers.
5. Vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes in weight

In summary, either you get a very expensive car above 3.5 tonnes in weight, a very old Proton Saga registered before 1995, a very big car that can carry 8 passengers or ALL your passengers will need to put on a seat belt.

Funny though.. imagine you are caught and landed in jail. Ask your fellow innates why they are in jail and some of them will answer theft, some assault, some arson.. When your innates ask you back the same question, you reply sheepishly.. ”Eh.. because my rear passengers did not put on their seat belt!!”

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Entry Filed under: Seat Belt requirement