Seat belts issue misunderstood

Seat belts issue misunderstood

From Media Indonesia

TV stations have popularized the mandatory wearing of seat
belts for motorists from Nov. 5. But some have conveyed the wrong
message: "Drivers and all passengers of four-wheeled motorized
vehicles are obliged to use seat belts".

Based on Law No.14/1992, drivers of motor vehicles with four
wheels or more are required to use seat belts, while only
passengers who sit beside the driver are obliged to wear a seat
belt. It is clear that the rule does not apply to passengers
sitting in the back seats.

Some policemen, however, owing to their own ignorance of the
law or in an attempt to benefit from the public's ignorance, have
tried to extort money from passengers who are not wearing seat
belts.

I would suggest that passengers carry photocopies of the
relevant articles in this law in order to avoid unnecessary
debate with the police on the road and thereby save time and
energy.

FS HARTONO
Yogyakarta