Lying on mattress in moving car endangers life - RTD

Datuk Rospiagos Taha

SHAH ALAM – Spreading out mattresses or ‘toto’ (comforter) in the rear passenger area of multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) while the vehicle is in motion constitutes both an offense and a safety hazard.

Road Transport Department (RTD) director-general Datuk Rospiagos Taha said that such behaviour endangers both the driver and passengers, especially children.

“All drivers and adult passengers must sit in seats while the vehicle is in motion.

“Additionally, starting from January 2009, the regulation on the use of seat belts in the rear seats has been enforced through the Motor Vehicles (Seat Belt) Regulations (Amendment 2008),” he told Sinar on Tuesday.

He said that children weighing less than 36 kilogrammes or measuring less than 136 centimetres in height, or under 12 years old, are required to use child safety seats when the vehicle is moving.

He added these regulations were enforced to reduce the impact and ensure passenger safety in the event of an accident.

A photo went viral on Monday, showing children in an MPV lying down with a ‘toto’ laid out in the rear passenger area.

Following this, an individual commented on social media X that road user safety education is still at a low level.

The X user Hezeri Samsuri pointed out that parents could be fined and jailed if an accident occurs resulting in death due to such negligence.