MELAKA: Forgetfulness is cited as the top excuse by bus drivers and passengers when asked why they are not wearing their seat belts, said Melaka Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Melaka JPJ director Siti Zarina Mohd Yusop said some passengers even claimed they didn’t think it was necessary to fasten their seat belts in a “big, safe bus”.
Speaking to the media at enforcement operations here, she said such excuses reflect a worrying lack of awareness and responsibility among both drivers and passengers, ever since seat belts were made compulsory for all express and tour buses on July 1.
“Our checks revealed 135 passengers and 18 drivers from 109 express and tour buses were found not wearing seat belts during an operation on Tuesday night.
“This shows a clear neglect of safety by both parties,” she said.
Siti Zarina said the JPJ had inspected 350 buses – 191 express buses and 159 tour buses – since early this month where seat belt-related offences were detected in 109 of them.
“Passengers may assume they are safe simply because they’re in a large vehicle, but this mindset is dangerous.
“What’s equally troubling is that some drivers aren’t doing enough to remind passengers or enforce the rule,” she said.
Siti Zarina said JPJ had previously engaged bus operators and provided sample posters for display inside buses to raise awareness.
“These reminders were meant to support drivers in encouraging compliance, and the level of non-compliance seen shouldn’t be happening after all the efforts put into raising awareness,” she added.
