KUALA LUMPUR: The child safety seat campaign will be intensified as part of an integrated road safety operation to be held in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations.
Road Safety Department (JPJ) director-general Mohd Nasri Ishak said the operation, which will be conducted in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, will spread awareness and guidance on the safety seats as well as the importance of road safety.
The effort includes the distribution of various campaign materials such as brochures, as well as the installation of safety billboards, and meeting with road users at highway rest areas.
"CRS (child restraint system) usage will be one of the safety elements that will be monitored in this integrated operation," he said after appearing as a guest on Bernama News Channel's 'Ruang Bicara' programme last night.
Also present on the panel was Universiti Putra Malaysia's Safe Kids Malaysia executive director and Assoc Prof Dr Kulanthayan KC Mani, who advised parents to use seats which bear the EN ECE R44/04 and R129 safety certifications.
He explained that only child safety seats which comply with UN Regulations will be allowed in the country.
The Government previously announced that child safety seats were compulsory for private vehicles effective Jan 1, to protect infants and children from serious injury or death in the event of an accident.
The new guideline was made following the alarming statistics of 1,559 deaths involving children under the age of 10, from 2007 to 2017.
However, no summonses will be issued to parents who fail to use the seats during the first six months of its implementation as this period will be used to spread awareness on the move.
