Starting July 1, both express and tour bus drivers, as well as their passengers must wear seatbelts. The Road Transport Department (JPJ) announced that enforcement will begin with buses made from Jan 2020 onwards.
JPJ Director-General Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said older buses would be given time to install seatbelts. Meanwhile, JPJ officers will begin checking for compliance from Tuesday.
He went on to explain that while the department previously focused on creating awareness, the time for action has now come.
From July 1, the rules will be enforced strictly. If a driver fails to remind passengers to wear their seatbelts, not only can the passengers be fined, but the driver and the bus operator may also face a RM300 fine.
However, if the driver had clearly reminded passengers and they still refused to comply, then only the passengers would be fined. To determine whether proper reminders were given, JPJ officers will review CCTV footage from the buses.
According to Aedy, the department has already met with bus operators and issued the necessary guidelines to support enforcement. Drivers are expected to ensure all passengers fasten their seatbelts before setting off.
He added that moving forward, there will be no compromise when it comes to safety violations. This decision follows the tragic bus crash on June 9 near Gerik, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students.
