Offer incentives to promote usage of child seats

I REFER to the report “Kajang toll crash: Baby was not in a child seat, says Loke” (The Star, Sept 29). The death of the toddler who was not secured in a child restraint system (CRS) is a painful reminder of the importance of road safety, especially for our youngest passengers.

Every child’s life is precious, and we must do everything possible to prevent such avoidable loss.

Evidence worldwide show that the use of child safety seats can drastically reduce the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a crash. Just as seat belts save adult lives, child restraint systems save children’s lives.

It is therefore imperative that parents and guardians place their children in child seats when travelling on the road. Every child below the age of 12 should be secured with a CRS according to their age, height and weight.

The government must intensify public education on CRS usage and also provide incentives to encourage compliance.

Among the measures that can be introduced include providing subsidies or rebates for families, especially those in the lower-income group, to make CRS affordable. Many parents have cited cost as the reason for why they do not use CRS.

The authorities concerned could also collaborate with manufacturers and retailers to reduce prices through special schemes like tax deductions.

Protecting children on the road is a shared responsibility between families, the government and society at large. By making CRS usage affordable, we can save countless young lives and prevent heartbreak.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE

Member

Malaysian Road Safety Council