'Watch your weight with a seat belt'

The police began to enforce the seat belt law on May 5, 12 years after Law No. 14/1992 on traffic was passed. According to the police, on the first day the law was enforced, 80 percent of drivers wore their seat belts. The Jakarta Post spoke with residents about the matter.

Rinda Hedwig, 31, is a lecturer at Bina Nusantara University. She lives with her family in Karawaci, Tangerang:

I have been wearing seat belts for a long time, since I went abroad to study. I think seat belts are very important for our own safety. I can say that based on my own experience.

Once I was speeding on the highway, during my time studying abroad, and had to make a sudden stop. I really felt the seat belt keep me in my seat from the sudden jerk.

Seat belts can also be used to help you watch your diet. Just put a mark on your seat belt, and if the mark goes further down, you'll know that you've gained weight.

Herry Fahmi, 32, is an accountant at a private bank on Jl. Gajah Mada in West Jakarta. He lives with his wife in Cipete, South Jakarta:

I have to admit that I am not used to wearing a seat belt when driving, but I will try to do so from now on. The regulation is actually designed for our own safety, so we should all support it.

However, I want to suggest that the authorities do more to promote the regulation among the public. Traffic policemen and government officials must provide a good example by also wearing their seat belts.

The authorities can also promote the wearing of seat belts using television programs, as in many other countries. If you watch foreign movies, you notice that the actors always wear their seat belts when driving. Maybe we can try something like that here.

-- The Jakarta Post