State Public Amenities, Infrastructure, Energy and Water Committee chairman, Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin said these helmets, which only covered the top half of the head, were favoured by many motorcyclists although they did not meet the safety specifications.
“The public should not buy and use turtle helmets as they do not have safety features,” he told reporters after launching a road safety campaign in Selama, near here, Tuesday.
A motorcyclist wearing a half-shell helmet.
The campaign was held in conjunction with the five-day Perak Mentri Besar Retreat Programme in the Larut parliamentary constituency from Tuesday.
At the event, Zainol Fadzi distributed 100 helmets, 100 light reflective jackets and 30 children’s helmets to motorcyclists.
Asked on the campaign, Fadzi Zainol said it was aimed at educating the public, especially motorcyclists and car drivers, to give priority to their own safety and that of others while on the road.
“We found that many motorcyclists were not wearing their helmets properly, while car drivers and passengers refused to wear the seat belts,” he said.
The call for a ban on the helmet has been a longstanding one.
In December 2008, The Star reported that the Road Safety Department had said laws were being drafted for the ban. But until now, such helmets continue to be available to the public.
