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