Pregnant or not, belt up

KUALA LUMPUR: Pregnant women usually don't bother with the seat belt, citing discomfort as an excuse.

Parents also tend to place their young tots in the front passenger seat when the car has an active frontal airbag, or cradle their newborn in their arms when in the car.

These practices are still rampant and have raised concern among safety experts.


A six-month campaign was, therefore, launched recently to educate parents and mothers-to-be on how to travel safely in cars.

Goran Larsson, president of Volvo Car Malaysia, said women should use a safety belt right up to delivery.

It is also safer for children below 5 to travel facing the rear. Further, anyone below 140cm in height should not sit in the front passenger seat if there's an active frontal airbag.


"Volvo has conducted in-depth research and wants to share this life-saving information with all Malaysians, especially expecting parents, so that they are armed with the right knowledge to keep themselves and their children safe in cars."

In collaboration with Gleneagles Medical Centre Kuala Lumpur, the six-month campaign is called "Knowledge Saves Lives".

"All parents want to protect their children at all times, including in cars. However, children are still suffering injuries or even dying because of incorrectly-fitted car seats or because the type of child restraint was wrong for the child's age, height and weight.


"Or worse, parents may think that it is safe enough just to cradle their child in their arms when travelling home without a specific child seat for the newborn baby. Often, the cause of the problem is simply a lack of knowledge."

Every month, during the hospital's pre-natal classes for expecting couples, Volvo shares practical car safety knowledge and tips.

"Many Malaysians are not equipped with the facts. Some believe that it is pantang (taboo) for pregnant women to wear the safety belt or maybe that it could harm their unborn child.

"We want to dispel the myths and share researched facts with people so that they know what to do. For example, it is equally important for a pregnant woman to know how to wear the safety belt correctly as her body changes. This is just one of the many simple, yet very important tips that people should know to protect themselves."

Larsson said expectant parents registered at Gleneagles would get a free child seat as a gift when they purchased a Volvo car from now until July 31, next year.

Gleneagles chief executive officer Amir Firdaus Abdullah said mishaps are unavoidable.

"That's why we have to be fully-equipped with knowledge on safety to try to avoid them and handle them in the best way possible when they do happen."

This six-month-long collaboration between Volvo and Gleneagles began in July and signalled the second phase of Volvo's safety campaign, which targeted pregnant women. The first phase, which began late last year, targeted pre-schoolers. It taught kindergarten children the basics of car safety.

Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh welcomed the effort to educate parents-to-be.

"The department is supportive of any initiative that promotes road safety."

He also said close to 600 cameras to detect traffic rule violators would be installed at over 250 locations throughout the country.

The initiative, known as the Automated Electronic Camera Enforcement System, will be implemented once the Road Transport Act 1987 has been amended.

"This new system will be able to detect those who beat traffic signals and speed beyond the permitted limit, by capturing images of the driver as well as their vehicles immediately," Suret said, adding that Malaysian drivers tend to commit offences that not only put themselves at risk, but other road users as well.