'Watch your weight with a seat belt'

'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